A medical device is described having a handle and an end effector coupled to the handle. The end effector has at least one electrode for providing electrical signals to a tissue or vessel to be treated. An RF drive circuit is provided for generating an RF drive signal that is applied to the end effector electrode. The RF drive circuit includes a resonant circuit and a frequency controller is used to vary the frequency of a signal passed through the resonant circuit in order to control the power supplied to the end effector electrode.

A device including a tissue manipulator, a conductive coating and at least one connector area. For example, the tissue manipulator may be scissors, clip appliers or clips, staplers and staple or a vessel sealing device. The conductive coating may be applied to the clip, staple or jaws of the scissors or sealing device. Electrical energy can be supplied through areas of contact (connector areas)—such as between an anvil and a pusher of the stapler and the conductive coating on the staple. The conductive coating can be energized along the mechanical application of the manipulator to transform and facilitate attachment of tissue layers.

A surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft; a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly; a radio frequency (RF) energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply RF energy to a tissue; an ultrasonic energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissue; and a controller configured to, based at least in part on a measured tissue characteristic, start application of RF energy by the RF energy output or application of ultrasonic energy by the ultrasonic energy output at a first time.

A surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft; a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly; a radio frequency (RF) energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply RF energy to a tissue; an ultrasonic energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissue; and a controller configured to, based at least in part on a measured tissue characteristic, start application of RF energy by the RF energy output or application of ultrasonic energy by the ultrasonic energy output at a first time.

A method of altering adipose tissue includes creating an electrochemical reaction in the tissue, wherein the electrochemical reaction occurs in the presence of an electrolytic solution in the tissue.

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.

A medical device is described having a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle and an end effector coupled to the shaft. In one embodiment, the device includes an ultrasonic transducer and is arranged so that ultrasonic or electrical energy can be delivered to a vessel or tissue to be treated. Various novel sensing circuits are described to allow a measure of the drive signal to be measured and fed back to a controller. An active fuse circuit is also described for protecting one or more batteries of the device from an over-current situation.

A medical device is described having a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle and an end effector coupled to the shaft. In one embodiment, the device includes an ultrasonic transducer and is arranged so that ultrasonic or electrical energy can be delivered to a vessel or tissue to be treated. Various novel sensing circuits are described to allow a measure of the drive signal to be measured and fed back to a controller. An active fuse circuit is also described for protecting one or more batteries of the device from an over-current situation.

A surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft; a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly; a radio frequency (RF) energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply RF energy to a tissue; an ultrasonic energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissue; and a controller configured to, based at least in part on a measured tissue characteristic, start application of RF energy by the RF energy output or application of ultrasonic energy by the ultrasonic energy output at a first time.

A surgical instrument comprises a controller configured to control application of RF or ultrasonic energy at a low level when displacement or intensity of a button is above a first threshold but below a second threshold higher than the first threshold, and control application of RF or ultrasonic energy at a high level when the displacement or intensity exceeds the second threshold. In another aspect, a surgical instrument comprises a first sensor configured to measure a tissue characteristic at a first location, a second sensor configured to measure the tissue characteristic at a second location, and a controller configured to, based at least in part on the measured tissue characteristic at the first location and the second location, control application of RF or ultrasonic energy.