Temperature-sensing electrically-conductive plate for an end effector of an electrosurgical instrument

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument, an electrosurgical power generating source, and a controller. The electrosurgical instrument includes a shaft extending from a housing. The shaft includes a distal end configured to support an end-effector assembly. The end-effector assembly includes opposing jaw members movably mounted with respect to one another and moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. At least one of the jaw members includes a temperature-sensing electrically-conductive tissue-contacting plate defining a bottom surface. One or more temperature sensors are coupled to the bottom surface. The controller is configured to control one or more operating parameters associated with the electrosurgical power generating source based on one or more signals indicative of a tissue impedance value and indicative of a temperature sensed by the one or more temperature sensors.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a pair of jaw members configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue, at least one of the jaw members having a tissue-contacting surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite to the tissue-contacting surface;   a first heating zone defined by a distal end portion of the bottom surface;   a second heating zone defined by a proximal portion of the bottom surface and disposed proximal to the first heating zone;   a knife channel disposed through the bottom surface along the second heating zone and configured to receive a knife for cutting tissue;   a first temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the first heating zone; and   a second temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the second heating zone, the first and second temperature sensors configured to sense a temperature of tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members for controlling thermal spread during use of the pair of jaw members to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.   
     
     
         19 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein the knife channel extends from a proximal end of the bottom surface to a distal end of the second heating zone. 
     
     
         20 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein the first heating zone extends from a distal end of the knife channel to a distal end of the bottom surface. 
     
     
         21 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first temperature sensor is electrically connected to a first conductive trace printed on the first and second heating zones of the bottom surface; and   the second temperature sensor is electrically connected to a second conductive trace printed on the second heating zone of the bottom surface.   
     
     
         22 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the first conductive trace is electrically insulated from the second conductive trace. 
     
     
         23 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second temperature sensors are electrically coupled to a controller via the respective first and second conductive traces, the controller configured to control delivery of electrosurgical energy to the first and second heating zones based on a temperature of the tissue sensed by the respective first and second temperature sensors. 
     
     
         24 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein the first temperature sensor is electrically insulated from the second temperature sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a third temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the first heating zone; and   a fourth temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the second heating zone, the third and fourth temperature sensors configured to sense a temperature of the tissue.   
     
     
         26 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein:
 the third temperature sensor is electrically connected to a third conductive trace printed on the first and second heating zones of the bottom surface; and   the fourth temperature sensor is electrically connected to a fourth conductive trace printed on the second heating zone of the bottom surface.   
     
     
         27 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 18 , further comprising a third heating zone defined by a proximal end portion of the bottom surface and disposed proximal to the second heating zone. 
     
     
         28 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 27 , wherein:
 the third heating zone is disposed along opposing sides of the knife channel between a proximal end of the bottom surface and a proximal end of the second heating zone;   the second heating zone is disposed along opposing sides of the knife channel between a distal end of the third heating zone and a distal end of the knife channel; and   the first heating zone is disposed between a distal end of the knife channel and a distal end of the bottom surface.   
     
     
         29 . An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a pair of jaw members configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue, at least one of the jaw members having a tissue-contacting surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite to the tissue-contacting surface;   a knife channel disposed through the bottom surface and configured to receive a knife for cutting tissue;   a first heating zone disposed on the bottom surface between a distal end of the knife channel and a distal end of the bottom surface;   a second heating zone disposed on the bottom surface between a proximal end of the bottom surface and the first heating zone;   a first temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the first heating zone; and   a second temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the second heating zone, the first and second temperature sensors configured to sense a temperature of tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members for controlling thermal spread during use of the pair of jaw members to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.   
     
     
         30 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 29 , wherein the knife channel extends from a proximal end of the bottom surface to a distal end of the second heating zone. 
     
     
         31 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first temperature sensor is electrically connected to a first conductive trace printed on the first and second heating zones of the bottom surface; and   the second temperature sensor is electrically connected to a second conductive trace printed on the second heating zone of the bottom surface.   
     
     
         32 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a third temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the first heating zone; and   a fourth temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the second heating zone.   
     
     
         33 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 32 , wherein:
 the third temperature sensor is electrically connected to a third conductive trace printed on the first and second heating zones of the bottom surface; and   the fourth temperature sensor is electrically connected to a fourth conductive trace printed on the second heating zone of the bottom zone.   
     
     
         34 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 29 , further comprising a third heating zone disposed on the bottom surface proximal to the second heating zone. 
     
     
         35 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 the third heating zone is disposed along opposing sides of the knife channel between a proximal end of the bottom surface and a proximal end of the second heating zone;   the second heating zone is disposed along opposing sides of the knife channel between a distal end of the third heating zone and a distal end of the knife channel; and   the first heating zone is disposed between a distal end of the knife channel and a distal end of the bottom surface.   
     
     
         36 . An electrically-conductive plate for an end effector of an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a tissue-contacting surface configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue;   a bottom surface disposed opposite to the tissue-contacting surface;   a knife channel disposed through the bottom surface and configured to receive a knife for cutting tissue;   a first heating zone disposed on the bottom surface and having a proximal end disposed distal to a distal end of the knife channel;   a second heating zone disposed on the bottom surface between a proximal end of the bottom surface and the first heating zone;   a first temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the first heating zone; and   a second temperature sensor disposed on the bottom surface within the second heating zone, the first and second temperature sensors configured to sense a temperature of tissue for controlling thermal spread during use of the tissue-contacting surface to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.   
     
     
         37 . The electrically-conductive plate according to  claim 36 , wherein the knife channel extends from a proximal end of the bottom surface to a distal end of the second heating zone.