Dynamic and static bipolar electrical sealing and cutting device

Abstract

An end effector assembly includes opposed jaws moveable from an open to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw includes an electrically conductive surface adapted to conduct electrosurgical energy through tissue disposed between the jaws. A static bipolar cutting portion including at least one electrically conductive cutting element and at least one insulating element having a first configuration is disposed on at least one of the jaws. The static cutting portion is configured to electrically cut tissue disposed between the jaws upon activation of the cutting element and at least one of an opposing sealing surface and an opposing cutting element. A dynamic cutting portion including at least one electrically conductive cutting element and at least one insulating element having a second configuration is disposed on at least one of the jaws. The dynamic cutting portion electrically transects tissue during movement relative to tissue.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:
 first and second jaw members each defining an opposed inwardly-facing surface and an outwardly-facing surface, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue between the inwardly-facing surfaces thereof; and   a dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion disposed on the outwardly-facing surface of one of the first or second jaw members, the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion including first and second electrically-conductive cutting elements and a first insulating element positioned between the first and second electrically-conductive cutting elements, the first and second electrically-conductive cutting elements adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy at different potentials to enable the conduction of energy from one of the first or second electrically-conductive cutting elements, through tissue adjacent the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, to the other of the first or second electrically-conductive cutting elements to dynamically electrically transect tissue upon movement of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion relative to tissue with the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion activated, wherein the first insulating element is configured to facilitate dynamic electrical transection of tissue.   
     
     
         12 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion further includes a third electrically-conductive cutting element and a second insulating element positioned between the second electrically-conductive cutting element and the third electrically-conductive cutting element, wherein the second insulating element is configured to facilitate dynamic electrical transection of tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the third electrically-conductive cutting element is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy at the same potential as the first electrically-conductive cutting element to enable the conduction of energy from the first and third electrically-conductive cutting elements, through tissue adjacent the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, to the second electrically-conductive cutting element to dynamically electrically transect tissue upon movement of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion relative to tissue with the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion activated. 
     
     
         14 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the third electrically-conductive cutting element is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy at the same potential as the first electrically-conductive cutting element to enable the conduction of energy from the second electrically-conductive cutting element, through tissue adjacent the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, to the first and third electrically-conductive cutting elements to dynamically electrically transect tissue upon movement of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion relative to tissue with the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion activated. 
     
     
         15 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is disposed on a longitudinal side of the outwardly-facing surface of the one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         16 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is disposed on a top side of the outwardly-facing surface of the one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         17 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is disposed on a distal tip of the outwardly-facing surface of the one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         18 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes an electrically-conductive plate defining at least a portion of the opposed inwardly-facing surface thereof, the electrically-conducive plates adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy at different potentials to conduct energy therebetween and through tissue grasped between the opposed inwardly-facing surfaces to seal tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a static electrosurgical cutting potion disposed on the opposed inwardly-facing surface of at least one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         20 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the static electrosurgical cutting portion includes at least one insulating element, different from the first insulating element of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, configured to facilitate static electrosurgical tissue cutting. 
     
     
         21 . An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:
 first and second jaw members each defining an opposed inwardly-facing surface and an outwardly-facing surface, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue between the inwardly-facing surfaces thereof; and   a dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion disposed on the outwardly-facing surface of one of the first or second jaw members, the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion including first, second, and third electrically-conductive cutting elements, a first insulating element positioned between the first and second electrically-conductive cutting elements, and a second insulating element positioned between the second and third electrically-conductive cutting elements, the first, second, and third electrically-conductive cutting elements adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy, the second electrically-conductive cutting element configured to be energized to a different potential as compared to the first and third electrically-conductive cutting element to enable the conduction of energy from one of the first and third electrically-conductive cutting elements or the second electrically-conductive cutting elements, through tissue adjacent the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, to the other of the first and third electrically-conductive cutting elements or the second electrically-conductive cutting element to dynamically electrically transect tissue upon movement of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion relative to tissue with the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion activated, wherein the first and second insulating elements are configured to facilitate dynamic electrical transection of tissue.   
     
     
         22 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is configured to conduct energy from the first and third electrically-conductive cutting elements, through tissue adjacent the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, to the second electrically-conductive cutting element to dynamically electrically transect tissue upon movement of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion relative to tissue with the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion activated. 
     
     
         23 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is configured to conduct energy from the second electrically-conductive cutting element, through tissue adjacent the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, to the first and third electrically-conductive cutting elements to dynamically electrically transect tissue upon movement of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion relative to tissue with the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion activated. 
     
     
         24 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is disposed on a longitudinal side of the outwardly-facing surface of the one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         25 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is disposed on a top side of the outwardly-facing surface of the one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         26 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion is disposed on a distal tip of the outwardly-facing surface of the one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         27 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes an electrically-conductive plate defining at least a portion of the opposed inwardly-facing surface thereof, the electrically-conducive plates adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy at different potentials to conduct energy therebetween and through tissue grasped between the opposed inwardly-facing surfaces to seal tissue. 
     
     
         28 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising a static electrosurgical cutting potion disposed on the opposed inwardly-facing surface of at least one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         29 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the static electrosurgical cutting portion includes at least one insulating element, different from the first and second insulating elements of the dynamic electrosurgical cutting portion, configured to facilitate static electrosurgical tissue cutting.