Vessel sealing system using capacitive RF dielectric heating

A method for electrosurgically sealing tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a type of tissue to be sealed;
• determining a Debye resonance frequency of the tissue being sealed based on the type of tissue to be sealed;
• applying RF energy to the tissue, the RF energy being applied at the Debye resonance frequency of the tissue being sealed;
• executing a predictive algorithm to determine a shift in the Debye resonance frequency of the tissue being sealed;
• and
• regulating the application of RF energy to the tissue to cause energy to flow through the tissue being sealed at the shifted Debye resonance frequency based on the determined shift.

A method for electrosurgically sealing tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
• an end effector having opposing jaw members, at least one of the jaw members movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;
• selecting a type of tissue to be sealed;
• determining a predetermined frequency based on the type of tissue to be sealed;
• applying RF energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the tissue via the jaw members, the RF energy applied at the predetermined frequency;
• executing a predictive algorithm to determine a shift in the predetermined frequency of the tissue being sealed;
• and
• regulating the application of RF energy from the electrosurgical energy source to the tissue to cause energy to flow through the tissue being sealed at the shifted predetermined frequency based on the determined shift.