Coaptive surgical sealing tool

A coaptive surgical sealing tool comprising:

• first and second arms, each having a front section and a back section, and with the arms pivotally attached to each other at a pivot connection between the front and back section of each arm;
• a finger ring on the back section of each arm;
• a spring between the back sections of the arms, with the spring urging the back sections of the arms away from each other;
• first and second jaws on the front section of the first and second arms, respectively, with the first and second jaws having a length of 5 to 8 cm and a width of 4-7 mm;
• first and second electrodes on the first and second jaws, respectively;
• first and second connectors electrically connected to the first and second electrodes and adapted to connect to an RF generator;
• an irrigation port on the first arm connected to an irrigation line leading to one or more irrigation fluid outlets in or adjacent to the first or second electrode, wherein the irrigation line and first arm extend within an insulating material;
• and
• a suction port on the first arm or the second arm and connected to a suction line leading to one or more suction openings in or adjacent to the first or second electrode.

A surgical method, comprising:

• sliding the jaws of a surgical hemostat clamp-type of tool through a liver parenchyma;
• positioning the jaws around a vessel;
• closing the jaws to press first and second electrodes on the inside of the jaws onto opposite sides of the vessel;
• applying RF energy to the electrodes to seal the vessel;
• and
• applying an irrigation fluid onto the vessel in the jaws, wherein the irrigation fluid flows through an irrigation line extending within an insulating material and in a same direction as a first arm extending within the insulating material.