Patent ID: 7625370

Claim:
A tissue welding apparatus for fusing a first piece of tissue in a surface proximate relationship with a second piece of tissue, comprising: an operative member adapted to be disposed generally on a side of the first piece of tissue opposite the second piece of tissue; at least one penetrating member movable with the operative member relative to the first piece of tissue, the penetrating member being adapted to penetrate the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; the penetrating member being adapted for connection to a source of heat for heating the penetrating member in order to form a tissue weld bonding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue; a chemical agent carried by the penetrating member on an exterior surface of the penetrating member, at least a portion of the chemical agent adapted to be released when the penetrating member penetrates at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue to facilitate a reaction between the chemical agent and at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; an elongate shaft, the operative member being a first jaw connected to the elongate shaft; and a second jaw connected to the shaft in an opposing relationship with the first jaw, the first jaw movable towards the second jaw; wherein the at least one penetrating member comprises a plurality of needles affixed to a substantially planar surface of the first jaw; and further comprising an energizing block movable longitudinally along the first jaw electrically coupling a subset of the plurality of needles to the source of heat.