Methods and devices for controlling motorized surgical devices

A surgical device, comprising:

• a proximal handle portion;
• an elongate shaft extending distally from the proximal handle portion;
• a first jaw at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the first jaw having a first tissue engagement surface;
• a second jaw at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the second jaw having a second tissue engagement surface, at least one of the first and second jaws being movable relative to the elongate shaft to facilitate clamping of tissue between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces;
• a first electrode forming at least a portion of the first tissue engagement surface, the first electrode being configured to apply energy to the tissue clamped between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces, the first electrode being connected to a power source to receive power therefrom;
• a conductive member extending from the first tissue engagement surface in a direction toward the second tissue engagement surface, the conductive member being configured to maintain a minimum amount of space between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces, the conductive member not being connected to the power source;
• a second electrode forming at least a portion of the second tissue engagement surface, the second electrode being configured to apply energy to the tissue clamped between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces, the second electrode being connected to the power source to receive power therefrom;
• a cutting element configured to translate along the first and second jaws so as to cut the tissue clamped between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces;
• a first actuator configured to be actuated so as to simultaneously cause energy to be applied by at least one of the first and second electrodes to the tissue clamped between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces and the cutting element to translate through the tissue so as to cut the tissue;
• a second actuator configured to be actuated so as to cause energy to be applied by the at least one of the first and second electrodes to the tissue between the first and second tissue engagement surfaces without causing the cutting element to translate through the tissue so as to cut the tissue;
• and
• a motor configured to provide an output that drives translation of the cutting element through the clamped tissue,
• wherein the actuation of the first actuator is configured to cause the motor to provide the output in response to user-applied force to the first actuator being equal to or greater than a predetermined force, and
• wherein the actuation of the first actuator is configured to drive the translation of the cutting element through the clamped tissue using manual power from the user-applied force, without the motor providing the output, in response to the user-applied force being less than the predetermined force.