Surgical instruments with electrodes

A surgical instrument configured to be used to form a seal in tissue, wherein the seal comprises an arcuate portion, the surgical instrument comprising:

• a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• a handle portion extending from the proximal end of the shaft, the handle portion comprising a trigger;
• an actuation mechanism operably engaged with the trigger;
• an actuation member operably engaged with the handle portion, and
• an end-effector extending from the distal end of the shaft, the end-effector comprising:
• a first portion comprising:
• an aperture extending through the first portion, wherein a portion of the actuation member is configured to extend into the aperture;
• a first face at least partially surrounding the aperture;
• a staple cavity defined in the first face;
• a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity;
• and
• a first electrode positioned one of on and proximate to the first face, wherein the first electrode comprises a continuous circumferentially arcuate portion extending around the aperture, wherein said first continuous circumferentially arcuate portion comprises a track, and wherein the first electrode is arranged radially outward from the staple cavity;
• and
• a second portion configured to be engaged with the actuation member, wherein the second portion is movable relative to the first portion when engaged with the actuation member to compress tissue positioned intermediate the first portion and the second portion, the second portion comprising:
• a second face, wherein the second face substantially opposes the first face when the second portion is engaged with the actuation member;
• a second circumferentially arcuate electrode, wherein the second electrode has a different polarity than the first electrode;
• and
• a positive temperature coefficient material positioned intermediate the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the positive temperature coefficient material is configured to selectively limit energy flow between the first electrode and the second electrode based on the temperature of the positive temperature coefficient material.

A surgical stapler configured to be used to form a substantially circular seal in tissue, the surgical stapler comprising:

• a shaft comprising;
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• and
• an electrically-conductive member extending intermediate the proximal end and the distal end;
• a handle portion extending from the proximal end of the shaft, the handle portion comprising a trigger;
• an actuation member operably engaged with the handle portion;
• and
• an end-effector extending from the distal end of the shaft, the end-effector comprising:
• a first portion comprising:
• an aperture extending through the first portion, wherein a portion of the actuation member is configured to extend into the aperture;
• a first face at least partially surrounding the aperture;
• a staple cavity defined in the first face;
• and
• a first electrode positioned one of on and proximate to the first face, wherein the first electrode forms a substantially circular contiguous shape extending around the aperture, and wherein the electrode is arranged radially outward from the staple cavity;
• and
• a second portion configured to be engaged with the actuation member, wherein the second portion is movable relative to the first portion when engaged with the actuation member to capture tissue positioned intermediate the first portion and the second portion, the second portion comprising:
• a second face;
• and
• a second electrode, wherein the first electrode has a different polarity than the second electrode;
• wherein the electrically-conductive member is configured to be placed in electrical communication with one of the first electrode and the second electrode.