Vessel sealing system

Abstract

An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft;   an end effector supported by a distal portion of the shaft, the end effector including opposed first and second jaw members moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position in which the opposing jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue under pressure with a gap defined therebetween, at least one of the opposing jaw members including an electrode adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, the electrode configured to communicate a series of electrical pulses of energy through tissue grasped between the jaw members to treat tissue;   a drive rod operably associated with the shaft and configured to move the jaw members between the first and subsequent positions,   wherein the end effector is configured to continually grasp the tissue under pressure to decrease the gap between the opposing jaw members as the tissue shrinks.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , further comprising inter-locking ratchets having a series of inter-locking positions that segment movement of the jaw members into discrete units, which, in turn, imparts discrete closure of the gap as the jaw members close relative to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 10 , wherein each inter-locking position of the inter-locking ratchets transmits a specific amount of force to the jaw members. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a housing that supports the shaft; and   a moveable handle operably coupled to the drive rod and configured to move relative to the housing between a first handle position corresponding to the first position of the jaw members and a second handle position corresponding to a subsequent position of the jaw members.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the moveable handle includes a ratchet disposed thereon configured to allow progressive closure of the jaw members of the end effector about tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the tissue is treated with an initial pulse of electrosurgical energy at a first electrical potential and as the gap is decreased the tissue is treated with subsequent pulses of electrical energy at decreased electrical potentials from the first electrical potential. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft;   an end effector supported by a distal portion of the shaft, the end effector including opposing first and second jaw members moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the opposing jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue under pressure with a gap defined therebetween, at least one of the opposing jaw members including an electrode adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, the electrode configured to communicate electrosurgical energy through tissue grasped between the jaw members to treat tissue;   wherein, as the tissue is being treated with electrosurgical energy at a first electrical potential, the end effector is configured to continually grasp the tissue under pressure to decrease the gap between the opposing jaw members as the tissue shrinks and as electrosurgical energy at decreased electrical potentials is communicated through the tissue.   
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the surgical instrument includes inter-locking ratchets having a series of inter-locking positions that segment movement of the jaw members into discrete units, which, in turn, imparts discrete closure of the gap as the jaw members close relative to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein each inter-locking position of the inter-locking ratchets transmits a specific amount of force to the opposing jaw members of the end effector. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , further comprising a drive rod operably associated with the shaft and configured to move the jaw members between the first and subsequent positions upon movement thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a housing that supports the shaft; and   a moveable handle operably coupled to the drive rod and configured to move relative to the housing between a first handle position corresponding to the first position of the jaw members and a second handle position corresponding to a subsequent position of the jaw members.   
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 19 , wherein the moveable handle includes a ratchet disposed thereon configured to allow progressive closure of the jaw members of the end effector about tissue.