Electrosurgical hemostatic method and device

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument is provided for cauterization and/or welding of tissue of varying impedance, thickness and vascularity especially in the performance of endoscopic procedures. The instrument compresses the tissue between one pole of a bipolar energy source located on one interfacing surface, and a second interfacing surface applying pressure in a predetermined range. A second pole is located one of the two interfacing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the second pole is located on the same interfacing surface as the first pole and an insulator electrically isolates the two poles. A preferred application of the invention is in a cutting instrument wherein a hemostatic line is formed along a cut line using RF energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrosurgical device having an end effector, wherein said end effector comprises: a cutting element arranged on said device to divide tissue engaged by said end effector through a cutting line when said cutting element is actuated.   at least one staple and at least one driver adapted to apply said at least one staple lateral to said cutting line.   first and second opposing interfacing surfaces said interfacing surfaces capable of engaging tissue therebetween, and said end effector capable of receiving bipolar energy therein, said first and second interfacing surfaces applying a predetermined pressure to said tissue in a range of between approximately one hundred fifteen pounds per square inch and approximately one hundred eighty five pounds per square inch a portion of said second interfacing surface comprising a ridge extending from said second interfacing surface to form a tissue compression zone between interfacing surfaces;   electrically isolated first and second poles comprising electrically opposite electrodes capable of conducting bipolar energy therethrough; wherein said first pole is comprised of one or more first electrodes of a first electrical potential; wherein said second pole is comprised of one or more second electrodes of a second electrical potential;   wherein at least one of said one or more first electrodes is located on at least one of said first and said second interfacing surfaces and wherein at least one of said one or more second electrodes is located on at least one of said first and second interfacing surfaces, so that bipolar energy may be communicated between said poles through the tissue; and   wherein each said one or more first electrodes is offset from each said one or more second electrodes, at said first and second interfacing surfaces.