A surgical stapler comprising: an end effector comprising: upper and lower opposing jaws (22, 24); a plurality of pairs of RF electrodes lined up longitudinally along each side of the upper jaw or the lower jaw (22, 24); wherein the end effector is configured to receive a staple cartridge in the lower jaw, the staple cartridge including a sled and a cutting element; an RF power source connected to the plurality of pairs of RF electrodes; a shaft connected to the end effector; a handle connected to the shaft, wherein the handle comprises: a pivotably retractable closure trigger that, when pivotably retracted toward the handle, causes the upper and lower opposing jaws (22, 24) to clamp; a firing trigger configured, when actuated and when a staple cartridge is received in the lower jaw, to cause the cutting element and the sled to move longitudinally along the lower jaw in a distal direction to cut clamped tissue; and means for sequentially actuating the plurality of pairs of RF electrodes, wherein the means is configured to actuate a proximal pair of the plurality of RF electrodes before a distal pair of the plurality of RF electrodes to coagulate cut tissue. an end effector comprising: upper and lower opposing jaws (22, 24); a plurality of pairs of RF electrodes lined up longitudinally along each side of the upper jaw or the lower jaw (22, 24); wherein the end effector is configured to receive a staple cartridge in the lower jaw, the staple cartridge including a sled and a cutting element; upper and lower opposing jaws (22, 24); a plurality of pairs of RF electrodes lined up longitudinally along each side of the upper jaw or the lower jaw (22, 24); wherein the end effector is configured to receive a staple cartridge in the lower jaw, the staple cartridge including a sled and a cutting element; an RF power source connected to the plurality of pairs of RF electrodes; a shaft connected to the end effector; a handle connected to the shaft, wherein the handle comprises: a pivotably retractable closure trigger that, when pivotably retracted toward the handle, causes the upper and lower opposing jaws (22, 24) to clamp; a firing trigger configured, when actuated and when a staple cartridge is received in the lower jaw, to cause the cutting element and the sled to move longitudinally along the lower jaw in a distal direction to cut clamped tissue; and means for sequentially actuating the plurality of pairs of RF electrodes, wherein the means is configured to actuate a proximal pair of the plurality of RF electrodes before a distal pair of the plurality of RF electrodes to coagulate cut tissue. a pivotably retractable closure trigger that, when pivotably retracted toward the handle, causes the upper and lower opposing jaws (22, 24) to clamp; a firing trigger configured, when actuated and when a staple cartridge is received in the lower jaw, to cause the cutting element and the sled to move longitudinally along the lower jaw in a distal direction to cut clamped tissue; and means for sequentially actuating the plurality of pairs of RF electrodes, wherein the means is configured to actuate a proximal pair of the plurality of RF electrodes before a distal pair of the plurality of RF electrodes to coagulate cut tissue.