Patent ID: 8795276

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle; an end effector, comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable relative to other of said first jaw and said second jaw; a longitudinal channel comprising a proximal end and a distal end; a cutting member at least partially positioned within said longitudinal channel, wherein said cutting member is movable between a first position, a second position, and a distal position to transect tissue positioned intermediate said first jaw and said second jaw; a first electrode positioned within said second jaw; a second electrode positioned within said second jaw, wherein said second electrode is positioned distally with respect to said first electrode; a third electrode comprised of a positive temperature coefficient material positioned within said first jaw, wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a first electrical resistance when the temperature of said third electrode is below a switching temperature, and wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a second electrical resistance higher than said first resistance when the temperature of said third electrode is above said switching temperature; and a controller configured to selectively electrically couple said first electrode and said second electrode with a power source, wherein said controller is configured to electrically couple said first electrode with the power source when said cutting member is positioned in said first position, and wherein said controller is configured to electrically couple said second electrode with the power source when said cutting member is positioned in said second position.