Patent ID: 8790342

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle; a first conductor; a second conductor; an end effector, comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw in order to capture tissue intermediate said first jaw and said second jaw; a first electrode electrically coupled with said first conductor; and a second electrode electrically coupled with said second conductor, wherein said second electrode comprises: a first layer comprised of a material configured to conduct a first current when a first pressure is applied to said material, and wherein said material is configured to conduct a second current when a second pressure is applied to said material; and a second layer comprised of a positive temperature coefficient material having a switching temperature, wherein said positive temperature coefficient material comprises a first electrical resistance at a first temperature below said switching temperature and a second electrical resistance at a second temperature above said switching temperature, wherein said second electrical resistance is greater than said first electrical resistance, and wherein said second layer comprises a tissue-contacting surface configured to contact the tissue captured between said first jaw and said second jaw.