Surgical end effector jaw and electrode configurations

Abstract

A surgical end effector may comprise first and second jaw members. The second jaw member may comprise an offset proximal supply electrode that is positioned to contact an opposing member of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. The second jaw member may also comprise a distal supply electrode that is positioned distal of the offset proximal electrode and is aligned with a conductive surface of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. When the first and second jaw members are in the closed position, the proximal supply electrode may be in contact with the opposing member and the distal supply electrode is not in contact with the conductive surface of the first jaw member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical end effector comprising:
 a first jaw member;   a second jaw member pivotable relative to the first jaw member from a first open position to a closed position, wherein the first and second jaw members are substantially parallel in the closed position, wherein the second jaw member comprises:
 an offset proximal supply electrode that is positioned to contact an opposing member of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position; and 
 a distal supply electrode that is positioned distal of the offset proximal electrode and is aligned with a conductive surface of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position; and 
   wherein, when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position, the proximal supply electrode is in contact with the opposing member and the distal supply electrode is not in contact with the conductive surface of the first jaw member.   
     
     
         2 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal supply electrode comprises a distal electrode portion that extends distally over at least a portion of a distal edge of the second jaw member. 
     
     
         3 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal supply electrode and the distal supply electrode are in electrical contact. 
     
     
         4 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the second jaw further comprises:
 a first insulating layer positioned between the proximal supply electrode and a first portion of the second jaw member; and   a second insulating layer positioned between the distal supply electrode and a second portion of the second jaw member.   
     
     
         5 . The end effector of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second insulating layers form a continuous insulating layer. 
     
     
         6 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member defines a first longitudinal channel and the second jaw members defines a second longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         7 . The end effector of  claim 6 , wherein the end effector further comprises a cutting element positioned to extend distally through the first and second longitudinal channels to sever tissue positioned between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         8 . The end effector of  claim 6 , wherein the first longitudinal channel extends distally through at least a portion of the offset proximal supply electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The end effector of  claim 6 , wherein the distal supply electrode is positioned distally from the first longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         10 . The end effector of  claim 6 , wherein the offset proximal electrode comprises a first region on a first side of the first longitudinal channel and a second region on a second side of the first longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         11 . The end effector of  claim 10 , wherein the offset proximal electrode comprises a third region distal from the first longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         12 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the distal supply electrode and the conductive surface define grip elements. 
     
     
         13 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing member is an electric insulator. 
     
     
         14 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing member comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical end effector comprising first and second jaw members pivotable from a first open position to a closed position:
 wherein the first and second jaw members define a proximal tissue treatment region and distal tissue treatment region;   wherein the second jaw member comprises, in the proximal tissue treatment region, an offset proximal supply electrode positioned such that when the jaw members are in the closed position the proximal supply electrode is in physical contact with the first jaw member and is not in electrical contact with the first jaw member;   wherein the second jaw member further comprises, in the distal tissue treatment region, a distal supply electrode positioned such that when the jaw members are in the closed position, the distal supply electrode is aligned with a conductive surface of the first jaw member; and   wherein, when the jaw members are in the closed position, the jaw members define a physical gap between the distal supply electrode and the conductive surface of the first jaw member.   
     
     
         16 . The end effector of  claim 15 , wherein the proximal supply contact is in physical contact with an opposing member of the first jaw member when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The end effector of  claim 15 , wherein the opposing member is an electric insulator. 
     
     
         18 . The end effector of  claim 15 , wherein the opposing member comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material. 
     
     
         19 . The end effector of  claim 15 , wherein the distal supply electrode and the conductive surface define grip elements. 
     
     
         20 . The end effector of  claim 15 , wherein the proximal supply electrode and the distal supply electrode are in electrical contact.