Patent ID: 8613383

Claim:
A surgical stapling assembly configured to be used to form a tissue seal comprising an arcuate portion, the surgical stapling assembly comprising: a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a handle portion extending from the proximal end of the shaft; an actuation member operably engaged with the handle portion; and an end-effector extending from the distal end of the shaft, the end-effector comprising: a first portion comprising: an aperture extending through the first portion, wherein a portion of the actuation member is configured to extend into the aperture; a first face at least partially surrounding the aperture; a staple cavity defined in the first face; a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity; and a first electrode positioned one of on and proximate to the first face, wherein the first electrode comprises a first contiguous circumferentially arcuate portion extending around the aperture, wherein said first contiguous circumferentially arcuate portion comprises a first path, and wherein the electrode is arranged radially outward from the staple cavity; and a second portion configured to be engaged with the actuation member, wherein the second portion is movable relative to the first portion when engaged with the actuation member to compress tissue positioned intermediate the first portion and the second portion, the second portion comprising: a second face, wherein the second face substantially opposes the first face when the second portion is engaged with the actuation member; an anvil pocket defined in the second face; and a second electrode positioned one of on and proximate to the second face, wherein the second electrode comprises a second contiguous circumferentially arcuate portion, wherein said second contiguous circumferentially arcuate portion comprises a second path, and wherein the first electrode has a different polarity than the second electrode.