Patent ID: 11944295
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an anvil, comprising:
an anvil longitudinal slot;
an anvil deck;
a first row of staple pockets defined in the anvil deck on a first side of the anvil longitudinal slot;
a first electrode assembly extending in parallel with the first row of staple pockets on the first side of the anvil longitudinal slot, wherein the first electrode assembly is raised from the anvil deck relative to the first row of staple pockets;
a second row of staple pockets defined in the anvil deck on a second side of the anvil longitudinal slot; and
a second electrode assembly extending in parallel with the second row of staple pockets on the second side of the anvil longitudinal slot, wherein the second electrode assembly is raised from the anvil deck relative to the first row of staple pockets;

a cartridge, wherein the anvil and the cartridge are configured to grasp tissue therebetween, and wherein the cartridge comprises an asymmetric cartridge body, comprising:
a cartridge deck;
a cartridge longitudinal slot;
a first row of staple cavities on a first side of the cartridge longitudinal slot, the first row of staple cavities comprising first staples deformable against the first row of staple pockets;
a third electrode assembly extending in parallel with the first row of staple cavities on the first side of the cartridge longitudinal slot, wherein the third electrode assembly is raised from the cartridge deck relative to the first row of staple cavities;
a second row of staple cavities on a second side of the cartridge longitudinal slot, the second row of staple cavities comprising second staples deformable against the second row of staple pockets; and
a longitudinal sealing step raised from the cartridge deck relative to the second row of staple cavities;

a cutting member movable along the anvil longitudinal slot and the cartridge longitudinal slot to cut the tissue;
wherein the first electrode assembly is configured to oppose the third electrode assembly, wherein the second electrode assembly is configured to oppose the longitudinal sealing step; and
a controller configured to adaptively switch between an opposing bipolar energy mode and an offset bipolar energy mode, wherein the opposing bipolar energy mode comprises passing a first therapeutic signal between the first electrode assembly and the third electrode assembly, and wherein the offset bipolar energy mode comprises passing a second therapeutic signal between the second electrode assembly and the third electrode assembly.