Abstract:
An electrosurgical apparatus that includes a housing having at least one shaft extending therefrom that operatively supports an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof is provided. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members pivotably connected to each other and moveable from an open spaced apart position to a closed position. Each of the jaw members operatively couples to an electrically conductive seal plate. One or both of the jaw members is configured to support one or more filaments thereon for selectively sectioning tissue. The electrically conductive seal plates and the filament are adapted to connect to an electrical surgical energy source. The electrosurgical apparatus is in operative communication with a control system having one or more control algorithms for independently controlling and monitoring the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the one or more filaments and the tissue sealing plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The following disclosure relates to an apparatus, system, and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure and, more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method that utilizes energy based sectioning to cut and/or section tissue as required by an electrosurgical procedure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    It is well known in the art that electrosurgical generators are employed by surgeons in conjunction with electrosurgical instruments to perform a variety of electrosurgical surgical procedures (e.g., tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, etc.). An electrosurgical generator generates and modulates electrosurgical energy which, in turn, is applied to the tissue by an electrosurgical instrument. Electrosurgical instruments may be either monopolar or bipolar and may be configured for open or endoscopic procedures. 
         [0005]    Electrosurgical instruments may be implemented to ablate, seal, cauterize, coagulate, and/or desiccate tissue and, if needed, cut and/or section tissue. Typically, cutting and/or sectioning tissue is performed with a knife blade movable within a longitudinal slot located on or within one or more seal plates associated with one or more jaw members configured to receive a knife blade, or portion thereof. The longitudinal slot is normally located on or within the seal plate within a treatment zone (e.g., seal and/or coagulation zone) associated therewith. Consequently, the knife blade cuts and/or sections through the seal and/or coagulation zone during longitudinal translation of the knife blade through the longitudinal slot. In some instances, it is not desirable to cut through the zone of sealed or coagulated tissue, but rather to the left or right of the zone of sealed or coagulated tissue such as, for example, during a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy procedure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    As noted above, after tissue is electrosurgically treated (e.g., sealed), it is sometimes desirable to cut tissue outside of the zone of treated tissue. With this purpose in mind, the present disclosure provides an electrosurgical apparatus that includes a housing having at least one shaft extending therefrom that operatively supports an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members pivotably connected to each other and moveable from an open spaced apart position to a closed position. Each of the jaw members operatively couples to an electrically conductive seal plate. In an embodiment, one or both of the jaw members is configured to support one or more filaments thereon for selectively sectioning tissue. The electrically conductive seal plates and the filament each are adapted to connect to an electrical surgical energy source. In an embodiment, the electrosurgical apparatus is in operative communication with a control system having one or more control algorithms for independently controlling and/or monitoring the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the one or more filaments and the tissue sealing plate on each of the jaw members. 
         [0007]    The present disclosure also provides a method for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The method includes the initial step of providing an electrosurgical apparatus that includes a pair of jaw members configured to grasp tissue therebetween. In embodiments, one or both of the jaw members may include one or more filaments. The method also includes the steps of: directing electrosurgical energy from an electrosurgical generator through tissue held between the jaw members; directing electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator to one or more filaments in contact with or adjacent to tissue; and applying a force to tissue adjacent a portion of the effected tissue site such that the portion of effected tissue is detachable from the rest of the effected tissue. 
         [0008]    The present disclosure further provides a system for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The system includes an electrosurgical apparatus adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. The electrosurgical apparatus includes a housing having at least one shaft extending therefrom that operatively supports an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members pivotably connected to each other and moveable from an open spaced apart position to a closed position to grasp tissue. An electrically conductive tissue sealing plate operatively couples to each of the jaw members. In an embodiment, one or both of the jaw members is configured to support one or more filaments thereon for selectively sectioning tissue. The electrically conductive seal plates and the filament are adapted to connect to an electrical surgical energy source. In an embodiment, the electrosurgical apparatus is in operative communication with a control system. The control system includes one or more algorithms for independently controlling and monitoring the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the at least one filament and the tissue sealing plate on each of the jaw members. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrosurgical apparatus and electrosurgical generator adapted for use with an energy based sectioning (EBS) system intended for use during an electrosurgical procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating components of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of an electrical configuration for connecting the electrosurgical apparatus to the electrosurgical generator depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged, side perspective view of an end effector assembly including a filament configuration intended for use with the EBS system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of the area of detail represented by  4 B depicted in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are enlarged, front perspective views of various filament configurations suitable for use with the end effector assembly of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate the electrosurgical apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1  in use; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, side view of an end effector assembly including a filament configuration intended for use with the EBS system of  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a method for performing an electrosurgical procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0020]    The present disclosure includes an electrosurgical apparatus that is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator that includes a control system configured for energy based sectioning (EBS). 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 1  an illustrative embodiment of an electrosurgical generator  200  (generator  200 ) is shown. Generator  200  is operatively and selectively connected to bipolar forceps  10  for performing an electrosurgical procedure. As noted above, an electrosurgical procedure may include sealing, cutting, coagulating, desiccating, and fulgurating tissue all of which may employ RF energy. Generator  200  may be configured for monopolar and/or bipolar modes of operation. Generator  200  includes all necessary components, parts, and/or members needed for a control system  300  (system  300 ) to function as intended. Generator  200  generates electrosurgical energy, which may be RF (radio frequency), microwave, ultrasound, infrared, ultraviolet, laser, thermal energy or other electrosurgical energy. An electrosurgical module  220  generates RF energy and includes a power supply  250  for generating energy and an output stage  252  which modulates the energy that is provided to the delivery device(s), such as an end effector assembly  100 , for delivery of the modulated energy to a patient. Power supply  250  may be a high voltage DC or AC power supply for producing electrosurgical current, where control signals generated by the system  300  adjust parameters of the voltage and current output, such as magnitude and frequency. The output stage  252  may modulate the output energy (e.g., via a waveform generator) based on signals generated by the system  300  to adjust waveform parameters, e.g., waveform shape, pulse width, duty cycle, crest factor, and/or repetition rate. System  300  may be coupled to the generator module  220  by connections that may include wired and/or wireless connections for providing the control signals to the generator module  220 . 
         [0022]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , a system  300  for performing an electrosurgical procedure (e.g., RF tissue procedure) is shown. System  300  is configured to, among other things, analyze parameters such as, for example, power, tissue and filament temperature, current, voltage, power, impedance, etc., such that a proper tissue effect can be achieved. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , system  300  includes one or more processors  302  in operative communication with a control module  304  executable on the processor  302 , and is configured to, among other things, quantify electrical and thermal parameters during tissue sectioning such that when a threshold value for electrical and thermal parameters is met, the control system  300  provides a signal to a user to apply a force to tissue. Control module  304  instructs one or more modules (e.g., an EBS module  306 ) to transmit electrosurgical energy, which may be in the form of a wave or signal/pulse, via one or more cables (e.g., cable  410 ) to one or both of the seal plates  118 ,  128  and/or one or more filaments  122 . Electrosurgical energy may be transmitted to the seal plates  118 ,  128  and the filaments  122  simultaneously or consecutively. 
         [0024]    The control module  304  processes information and/or signals (e.g., tissue and/or filament temperature data from sensors  316 ) input to the processor  302  and generates control signals for modulating the electrosurgical energy in accordance with the input information and/or signals. Information may include pre-surgical data (e.g., tissue and/or filament temperature threshold values) entered prior to the electrosurgical procedure or information entered and/or obtained during the electrosurgical procedure through one or more modules (e.g., EBS module  306 ) and/or other suitable device(s). The information may include requests, instructions, ideal mapping(s) (e.g., look-up-tables, continuous mappings, etc.), sensed information and/or mode selection. 
         [0025]    The control module  304  regulates the generator  200  (e.g., the power supply  250  and/or the output stage  252 ) which adjusts various parameters of the electrosurgical energy delivered to the patient (via one or both of the seal plates and/or one or more filaments) during the electrosurgical procedure. Parameters of the delivered electrosurgical energy that may be regulated include voltage, current, resistance, intensity, power, frequency, amplitude, and/or waveform parameters, e.g., waveform shape, pulse width, duty cycle, crest factor, and/or repetition rate of the output and/or effective energy. 
         [0026]    The control module  304  includes software instructions executable by the processor  302  for processing algorithms and/or data received by sensors  316 , and for outputting control signals to the generator module  220  and/or other modules. The software instructions may be stored in a storage medium such as a memory internal to the processor  302  and/or a memory accessible by the processor  302 , such as an external memory, e.g., an external hard drive, floppy diskette, CD-ROM, etc. 
         [0027]    In embodiments, an audio or visual feedback monitor or indicator (not explicitly shown) may be employed to convey information to the surgeon regarding the status of a component of the electrosurgical system or the electrosurgical procedure. Control signals provided to the generator module  220  are determined by processing (e.g., performing algorithms), which may include using information and/or signals provided by sensors  316 . 
         [0028]    The control module  304  regulates the electrosurgical energy in response to feedback information, e.g., information related to tissue condition at or proximate the surgical site. Processing of the feedback information may include determining: changes in the feedback information; rate of change of the feedback information; and/or relativity of the feedback information to corresponding values sensed prior to starting the procedure (pre-surgical values) in accordance with the mode, control variable(s) and ideal curve(s) selected. The control module  304  then sends control signals to the generator module  220  such as for regulating the power supply  250  and/or the output stage  252 . 
         [0029]    Regulation of certain parameters of the electrosurgical energy may be based on a tissue response such as recognition of when a proper seal is achieved and/or when a predetermined threshold temperature value is achieved. Recognition of the event may automatically switch the generator  200  to a different mode of operation (e.g., EBS mode or “RF output mode”) and subsequently switch the generator  200  back to an original mode after the event has occurred. In embodiments, recognition of the event may automatically switch the generator  200  to a different mode of operation and subsequently shutoff the generator  200 . 
         [0030]    EBS module  306  (shown as two modules for illustrative purposes) may be digital and/or analog circuitry that can receive instructions from and provide status to a processor  302  (via, for example, a digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converter). EBS module  306  is also coupled to control module  304  to receive one or more electrosurgical energy waves at a frequency and amplitude specified by the processor  302 , and/or transmit the electrosurgical energy waves along the cable  410  to one or both of the seal plates, one or more filaments  122  and/or sensors  316 . EBS module  306  can also amplify, filter, and digitally sample return signals received by sensors  316  and transmitted along cable  410 . 
         [0031]    A sensor module  308  senses electromagnetic, electrical, and/or physical parameters or properties at the operating site and communicates with the control module  304  and/or EBS module  306  to regulate the output electrosurgical energy. The sensor module  308  may be configured to measure, i.e., “sense”, various electromagnetic, electrical, physical, and/or electromechanical conditions, such as at or proximate the operating site, including: tissue impedance, tissue temperature, and so on. For example, sensors of the sensor module  308  may include sensors  316 , such as, for example, optical sensor(s), proximity sensor(s), pressure sensor(s), tissue moisture sensor(s), temperature sensor(s), and/or real-time and RMS current and voltage sensing systems. The sensor module  308  measures one or more of these conditions continuously or in real-time such that the control module  304  can continually modulate the electrosurgical output in real-time. 
         [0032]    In embodiments, sensors  316  may include a smart sensor assembly (e.g., a smart sensor, smart circuit, computer, and/or feedback loop, etc. (not explicitly shown)). For example, the smart sensor may include a feedback loop which indicates when a tissue seal is complete based upon one or more of the following parameters: tissue temperature, tissue impedance at the seal, change in impedance of the tissue over time and/or changes in the power or current applied to the tissue over time. An audible or visual feedback monitor may be employed to convey information to the surgeon regarding the overall seal quality or the completion of an effective tissue seal. 
         [0033]    With reference again to  FIG. 1 , electrosurgical apparatus  10  can be any type of electrosurgical apparatus known in the available art, including but not limited to electrosurgical apparatuses that can grasp and/or perform any of the above mentioned electrosurgical procedures. One type of electrosurgical apparatus  10  may include bipolar forceps as disclosed in United States Patent Publication No. 2007/0173814 entitled “Vessel Sealer and Divider For Large Tissue Structures”. A brief discussion of bipolar forceps  10  and components, parts, and members associated therewith is included herein to provide further detail and to aid in the understanding of the present disclosure. 
         [0034]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , bipolar forceps  10  is shown for use with various electrosurgical procedures and generally includes a housing  20 , a handle assembly  30 , a rotating assembly  80 , a trigger assembly  70 , a shaft  12 , a drive assembly (not explicitly shown), and an end effector assembly  100 , which mutually cooperate to grasp, seal and divide large tubular vessels and large vascular tissues. Although the majority of the figure drawings depict a bipolar forceps  10  for use in connection with endoscopic surgical procedures, the present disclosure may be used for more traditional open surgical procedures. 
         [0035]    Shaft  12  has a distal end  16  dimensioned to mechanically engage the end effector assembly  100  and a proximal end  14  which mechanically engages the housing  20 . In the drawings and in the descriptions which follow, the term “proximal,” as is traditional, will refer to the end of the forceps  10  which is closer to the user, while the term “distal” will refer to the end which is farther from the user. 
         [0036]    Forceps  10  includes an electrosurgical cable  410  that connects the forceps  10  to a source of electrosurgical energy, e.g., generator  200 , shown schematically in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , cable  410  is internally divided into cable leads  410   a ,  410   b  and  425   b  which are designed to transmit electrical potentials through their respective feed paths through the forceps  10  to the end effector assembly  100 . 
         [0037]    For a more detailed description of handle assembly  30 , movable handle  40 , rotating assembly  80 , electrosurgical cable  410  (including line-feed configurations and/or connections), and the drive assembly reference is made to commonly owned Patent Publication No., 2003-0229344, filed on Feb. 20, 2003, entitled VESSEL SEALER AND DIVIDER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME. 
         [0038]    With reference now to  FIGS. 4A ,  5 A- 5 C, and initially with reference to  FIG. 4A , end effector assembly  100  is shown attached at the distal end  16  of shaft  12  and includes a pair of opposing jaw members  110  and  120 . As noted above, movable handle  40  of handle assembly  30  operatively couples to a drive assembly which, together, mechanically cooperate to impart movement of the jaw members  110  and  120  from an open position wherein the jaw members  110  and  120  are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping or closed position wherein the jaw members  110  and  120  cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. 
         [0039]    Jaw members  110  and  120  are generally symmetrical and include similar component features which cooperate to effect the sealing and dividing of tissue. As a result, and unless otherwise noted, only jaw member  110  and the operative features associated therewith are described in detail herein, but as can be appreciated many of these features, if not all, apply to equally jaw member  120  as well. 
         [0040]    Jaw member  110  includes an insulative jaw housing  117  and an electrically conductive seal plate  118  (seal plate  118 ). Insulator  117  is configured to securely engage the electrically conductive seal plate  118 . Seal plate  118  may be manufactured from stamped steel. This may be accomplished by stamping, by overmolding, by overmolding a stamped electrically conductive sealing plate and/or by overmolding a metal injection molded seal plate. All of these manufacturing techniques produce an electrode having a seal plate  118  that is substantially surrounded by the insulating substrate. Within the purview of the present disclosure, jaw member  110  may include a jaw housing  117  that is integrally formed with a seal plate  118 . 
         [0041]    Jaw member  120  includes a similar structure having an outer insulative housing  127  that is overmolded (to capture seal plate  128 ). 
         [0042]    End effector assembly  100  is configured for energy based sectioning (EBS). To this end, end effector assembly  100  is provided with one or more electrodes or filaments  122 . Filament  122  may be configured to operate in monopolar or bipolar modes of operation, and may operate alone or in conjunction with control system  300  (mentioned and described above). With this purpose in mind, filament  122  is in operative communication with one or more sensors  316  operatively connected to one or more modules of control system  300  by way of one or more optical fibers or a cable (e.g., cable  410 ). 
         [0043]    Filament  122  functions to convert electrosurgical energy into thermal energy such that tissue in contact therewith (or adjacent thereto) may be heated and subsequently cut or severed. With this purpose in mind, filament  122  may manufactured from any suitable material capable of converting electrosurgical energy into thermal energy and/or capable of being heated, including but not limited to metal, metal alloy, ceramic and the like. Metal and/or metal alloy suitable for the manufacture of filament  122  may include Tungsten, or derivatives thereof. Ceramic suitable for the manufacture of filament  122  may include those of the non-crystalline (e.g., glass-ceramic) or crystalline type. 
         [0044]    Filament  122  is configured to contact tissue during or after application of electrosurgical energy that is intended to treat tissue (e.g., seal tissue). To this end, filament  122  is disposed at predetermined locations on one or both of the jaw members  110 ,  120 , see  FIG. 4A  for example. As shown, filament  122  extends from and along seal plate  118  of jaw member  110 . Filaments  122  disposed on the jaw members  110 ,  120  may be in vertical registration with each other. 
         [0045]    The top portion of filament  122  may have any suitable geometric configuration. For example,  FIG. 4A  illustrates filament  122  having a top portion that is curved, while  FIGS. 5A  and  5 B illustrate, respectively, one or more filaments  122  each having top portions that are flat and one or more filaments  122  each having top portions that are curved, flat, and pointed. 
         [0046]    To prevent short-circuiting from occurring between the filament  122  and the seal plate (e.g., seal plate  118 ) from which it extends or is adjacent thereto, filament  122  is provided with an insulative material  126 , as best seen in  FIG. 4B . The insulative material  126  may be disposed between the portion of the filament  122  that extends from or that is adjacent to the seal plate. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the portion of the filament  122  that extends from or that is adjacent to the seal plate may be made from a non-conductive material. In embodiments, one or more filaments  122  may have portions that are insulated and/or separated from each other (see  FIGS. 5A-5C , for example). 
         [0047]    Filament  122  may be active prior, during, or subsequent to the application of electrosurgical energy used for performing an electrosurgical procedure (e.g., sealing). Filament  122 , or portions thereof, may be activated and/or controlled individually and/or collectively. 
         [0048]    In embodiments, filament  122  may be coated with a conductive non-stick material  124 , such as, for example, a conductive non-stick mesh, as best seen in  FIG. 4B . Filament  122  coated with a conductive non-stick material  124  or conductive non-stick mesh may prevent and/or impede sticking and/or charring of tissue during the application of electrosurgical energy for performing the electrosurgical procedure or EBS. 
         [0049]    One or both of the jaw members  110 ,  120  may include one or more sensors  316 . Sensors  316  are placed at predetermined locations on, in, or along surfaces of the jaw members  110 ,  120  (FIGS.  4 A and  5 A- 5 C). In embodiments, end effector assembly  100  and/or jaw members  110  and  120  may have sensors  316  placed near a proximal end and/or near a distal end of jaw members  110  and  120 , as well as along the length of jaw members  110  and  120 . 
         [0050]    With reference now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , operation of bipolar forceps  10  under the control of system  300  is now described. For illustrative purposes, EBS is described subsequent to the application of electrosurgical energy for achieving a desired tissue effect (e.g., tissue sealing). Processor  302  instructs EBS module  306  to generate electrosurgical energy in response to the processor instructions, the EBS module  306  can access a pulse rate frequency clock associated with a time source (not explicitly shown) to form an electrosurgical pulse/signal exhibiting the attributes (e.g., amplitude and frequency) specified by the processor  302  and can transmit such pulse/signal on one or more cables (e.g., cable  410 ) to filament  122  and/or sensors  316 . In another embodiment, the processor does not specify attributes of the electrosurgical pulse/signal, but rather instructs/triggers other circuitry to form the electrosurgical pulse/signal and/or performs timing measurements on signals conditioned and/or filtered by other circuitry. 
         [0051]    The transmitted electrosurgical pulse/signal travels along cable  410  to one or more filaments  122  that is/are in contact with, and/or otherwise adjacent to tissue. Filament  122  converts the electrosurgical energy to thermal energy and heats the tissue in contact therewith or adjacent thereto. Data, such as, for example, temperature, pressure, impedance and so forth is sensed by sensors  316  and transmitted to and sampled by the EBS module  306  and/or sensor module  224 . 
         [0052]    The data can be processed by the processor  302  and/or EBS module  306  to determine, for example, when a tissue and/or filament threshold temperature has been achieved. The processor  302  can subsequently transmit and/or otherwise communicate the data to the control module  304  such that output power from generator  200  may be adjusted accordingly. The processor  302  can also subsequently transmit and/or otherwise communicate the data to a local digital data processing device, a remote digital data processing device, an LED display, a computer program, and/or to any other type of entity (none of which being explicitly shown) capable of receiving the data. 
         [0053]    Upon reaching a desired tissue and/or filament  122  threshold temperature, control system  300  may indicate (by way of an audio or visual feedback monitor or indicator, previously mentioned and described above) to a user that tissue is ready for sectioning. A user may then grasp tissue (for example, with a surgical implement or bipolar forceps  10 ) adjacent to the operating site and outside the seal zone ( FIG. 6A ) and apply a pulling force “F” generally normal and along the same plane as the sectioning line which facilitates the separation of tissue ( FIG. 6B ). Application of the pulling force “F” separates the unwanted tissue from the operating site with minimal impact on the seal zone. The remaining tissue at the operating site is effectively sealed and the separated tissue may be easily discarded. 
         [0054]    From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. For example, as best seen in  FIG. 7 , it may be preferable to include a channel or cavity  122   a  (shown phantomly) on one or both of the seal plates (e.g., seal plate  118 ) that is in vertical registration with a filament  122  on an opposing seal surface (e.g., seal plate  128 ). Here, the cavity  122   a  and the filament  122  are configured to matingly engage with each other when the jaw members are in a closed configuration such that effective heating of tissue at the tissue site may be achieved. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a filament  122  of a given structure configured to matingly engage with a corresponding cavity  122   a  may allow the filament  122  to contact a greater tissue area which, in turn, may enable a user to heat more tissue for a given EBS procedure. 
         [0055]    While a majority of the drawings depict a filament  122  that is disposed on one or both of the seal plates of one or both of the jaw members  110 ,  120 , it is within the purview of the present disclosure to have one or more filaments  122  disposed on and/or along an outside and/or inside edge of one or both of the jaw members  110 ,  120 , or any combination thereof. For example, filament  122  may extend partially along an outside edge of jaw member  110  (see  FIG. 7 , for example). Alternatively, filament  122  may extend along the entire length of a periphery of jaw member  110 . In either instance, filament  122  may be configured as described above and/or may include the same, similar and/or different structures to facilitate separating tissue. 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  shows a method  500  for performing an electrosurgical procedure. At step  502 , an electrosurgical apparatus including a pair of jaw members configured to grasp tissue therebetween and including one or more filaments is provided. At step  504 , electrosurgical energy from an electrosurgical generator is directed through tissue held between the jaw members. At step  506 , electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator is transmitted to one or more filaments in contact with or adjacent to tissue such that tissue may be severed. And at step  508 , a force is applied to tissue adjacent the effected tissue site generally in a normal or transverse direction to facilitate separation of the tissue. 
         [0057]    In embodiments, the step of delivering electrosurgical energy to the at least one filament may include the step of system  300  quantifying one of electrical and thermal parameter associated with tissue and the filament. 
         [0058]    In embodiments, the step of applying a force may include the step of applying the force simultaneously with delivering electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the at least one filament. 
         [0059]    In embodiments, the step of applying a force may include the step of applying the force consecutively after audible or visible indication (e.g., an LED located on generator  200  displays “Apply Pulling Force”). 
         [0060]    While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.