Patent ID: 7972331

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument including two articulated limbs, which can be actuated in the manner of a cutting or clamping tool, electrode parts with coagulating surfaces positioned opposite each other at distal ends of the limbs for gripping tissue and adapted to pass a coagulating current through said tissue to cause its coagulation, current supply devices adapted to supply said coagulating current to said electrode parts from a HF generator, and a cutting instrument, wherein opposing clamping regions defined by said electrode parts are adapted to clamp said tissue whereby said tissue is pretensioned between said electrode parts and in order that a cutting procedure can be carried out on said pretensioned tissue by means of said cutting instrument, wherein at least one of the clamping regions comprises a surface profile supporting a clamping effect, which is configured at two end areas of the respective clamping region, wherein the end areas are facing away from a center of the clamping regions, and additionally moves the tissue in a direction of traction away from the center of the clamping regions, the surface profile being configured as rounded nodules that function as an arrangement of barbs in such a way that the tension in the tissue caused by clamping the tissue between the opposing clamping regions remains in the tissue the when the limbs are slightly opened, wherein passages are provided on the opposing clamping regions that divide the respective electrode parts into at least two areas, with the result that the electrode parts each have opposing, split surfaces, wherein the passages essentially adjoin each other in alignment when the limbs are brought together, and wherein one of said limbs is configured and adapted to accommodate said cutting instrument at a position within a passage of said one limb, and said cutting instrument is moveable between said position within the passage of said one limb and positions at which said cutting instrument cuts through said pretensioned vessel or tissue.