Electrosurgical hemostatic device including an anvil

An electrosurgical instrument comprising:

• a handle,
• an actuating means coupled to said handle,
• an end effector coupled to the distal end of said actuating means,
• a means for communicating bipolar electrical energy from a biopolar energy source to said end effector,
• said end effector including:
• first and second jaw members,
• a first interfacing surface,
• a second interfacing surface,
• a first pole comprising one or more first electrodes of a first electrical potential located on at least one of said interfacing surfaces,
• a second pole comprising one or more second electrodes of a second electrical potential located on at least one of said interfacing surfaces, and
• an insulator arranged to offset each of said one or more first electrodes from each of said one or more second electrodes, at said interfacing surfaces,
• wherein said actuating means is capable of causing said end effector to engage tissue between the first interfacing surface and the second interfacing surface,
• wherein said first jaw member is an anvil and wherein said anvil has a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and approximately three hundred fifty pounds per inch,
• wherein said first pole and said second pole are comprised of electrically opposite electrodes capable of conducting electrical energy supplied from said means for communicating bipolar electrical energy from a bipolar energy source, through tissue adjaccent to said one or more first electrodes and said one or more second electrodes.

An electrosurgical instrument having an end effector, wherein said end effector comprises:

• first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween, and said end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein;
• a cutting element arranged on said instrument to cut tissue engaged by said end effector when said cutting element is actuated, wherein said first interfacing surface includes a first slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element;
• a cartridge containing at least one row of staples and at least one driver adapted to apply said staples to tissue engaged by said end effector, said cartridge having a second slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element, said first and second slots arranged to permit said cutting element to travel lateral to said at least one row of staples, said cartridge forming at least a portion of said second interfacing surface;
• an anvil for receiving and forming said staples, said anvil forming at least a portion of said first interfacing surface which said anvil has a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and three hundred fifty pounds per inch;
• electrically isolated first and second poles positioned on said first interfacing surface and comprising electrically opposite electrodes, wherein said first pole is comprised of first and second elongated substantially parallel electrodes arranged on opposite sides of said first slot and said second pole comprises an electrode positioned on said anvil;
• first and second compression ridges extending from said first interfacing surface, wherein said first and second electrodes comprise at least a portion of said first and second compression ridges;
• third and fourth electrically insulating compression ridges extending from said second interfacing surface;
• a first tissue contacting surface on said first and second compression ridges;
• a second tissue contacting surface on said third and fourth compression ridges;
• and
• a recessed insulation region separating said first pole from said second pole wherein said recessed insulation region includes a recessed tissue contacting surface, said recessed tissue contacting surface being approximately level with said portion of !said first interfacing surface comprising said anvil.

An electrosurgical instrument comprising:

• a handle,
• an actuating means coupled to said handle,
• an end effector coupled to the distal end of said actuating means,
• a means for communicating bipolar electrical energy from a bipolar energy source to said end effector,
• said end effector comprising:
• first and second opposing interfacing surfaces, said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween, and said end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein;
• a cutting element arranged on said instrument to cut tissue engaged by said end effector when said cutting element is actuated, wherein said first interfacing surface includes a first slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element;
• a cartridge containing at least one row of staples and at least one driver adapted to apply said staples to tissue engaged by said end effector, said cartridge having a second slot extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said cutting element, said first and second slots arranged to permit said cutting element to travel lateral to said at least one row of staples, said cartridge forming at least a portion of said second interfacing surface;
• an anvil for receiving and forming said staples, said anvil forming at least a portion of said first interfacing surface wherein said anvil has a spring rate of between approximately two hundred twenty five pounds per inch and three hundred fifty pounds per inch;
• electrically isolated first and second poles positioned on said first interfacing surface and comprising electrically opposite electrodes, wherein said first pole is comprised of first and second elongated substantially parallel electrodes arranged on opposite sides of said first slot and said second pole comprises an electrode positioned on said anvil;
• first and second compression ridges extending from said first interfacing surface, wherein said first and second electrodes comprise at least a portion of said first and second compression ridges;
• third and fourth electrically insulating compression ridges extending from said second interfacing surface;
• a first tissue contacting surface on said first and second compression ridges;
• a second tissue contacting surface on said third and fourth compression ridges;
• and
• a recessed insulation region separating said first pole from said second pole wherein said recessed insulation region includes a recessed tissue contacting surface, said recessed tissue contacting surface being approximately level with said portion of said first interfacing surface comprising said anvil.