SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING END EFFECTOR WITH ENERGY SENSITIVE RESISTANCE ELEMENTS

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

an anvil, comprising:

a row of staple pockets; and

a first electrode assembly, wherein the first electrode assembly is stepped relative to the row of staple pockets, and wherein the first electrode assembly comprises first segmented electrodes;

first energy-sensitive resistance elements coupled to the first segmented electrodes, wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements are configured to adaptively and independently control current through the first segmented electrodes; and

a cartridge, wherein the anvil and the cartridge are configured to grasp tissue therebetween, and wherein the cartridge comprises an asymmetric cartridge body, comprising:

a cartridge deck;

a row of staple cavities comprising staples deformable against the row of staple pockets;

a second electrode assembly, wherein the second electrode assembly is stepped relative to the row of staple cavities, and wherein the second electrode assembly comprises second segmented electrodes; and

second energy-sensitive resistance elements coupled to the second segmented electrodes, wherein the second energy-sensitive resistance elements are configured to adaptively and independently control current through the second segmented electrodes.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein a control circuit configured to:

execute an energy delivery algorithm for delivering bipolar energy to the tissue between the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly;

detect a transition of at least one of the first energy-sensitive resistance elements and the second energy-sensitive resistance elements from a first impedance to a second impedance; and

adjust the energy delivery algorithm based on the transition.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements are coupled in series with the first segmented electrodes.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode assembly comprises a higher energy density than the first electrode assembly.

6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise a different temperature response than the second energy-sensitive resistance elements.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise a different transition temperature than the second energy-sensitive resistance elements.

8 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

an anvil, comprising:

a row of staple pockets; and

a first electrode assembly, wherein the first electrode assembly is stepped relative to the row of staple pockets, and wherein the first electrode assembly comprises first segmented electrodes;

first energy-sensitive resistance elements coupled to the first segmented electrodes, wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements are configured to passively and independently deactivate energy flow through the first segmented electrodes; and

a cartridge, wherein the anvil and the cartridge are configured to grasp tissue therebetween, and wherein the cartridge comprises an asymmetric cartridge body, comprising:

a cartridge deck;

a row of staple cavities comprising staples deformable against the row of staple pockets;

a second electrode assembly, wherein the second electrode assembly is stepped relative to the row of staple cavities, and wherein the second electrode assembly comprises second segmented electrodes; and

second energy-sensitive resistance elements coupled to the second segmented electrodes, wherein the second energy-sensitive resistance elements are configured to passively and independently deactivate energy flow through the second segmented electrodes.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein a control circuit configured to:

execute an energy delivery algorithm for delivering bipolar energy to the tissue between the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly;

detect a transition of at least one of the first energy-sensitive resistance elements and the second energy-sensitive resistance elements from a first impedance to a second impedance; and

adjust the energy delivery algorithm based on the transition.

10 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material.

11 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise are coupled in series with the first segmented electrodes.

12 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the second electrode assembly comprises a higher energy density than the first electrode assembly.

13 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise different temperature response than the second energy-sensitive resistance elements.

14 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first energy-sensitive resistance elements comprise a different transition temperature than the second energy-sensitive resistance elements.

15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

an anvil, comprising:

a row of staple pockets; and

a first electrode assembly, wherein the first electrode assembly is stepped relative to the row of staple pockets;

a cartridge, wherein the anvil and the cartridge are configured to grasp tissue therebetween, and wherein the cartridge comprises an asymmetric cartridge body, comprising:

a cartridge deck;

a row of staple cavities comprising staples deformable against the row of staple pockets;

a second electrode assembly extending in parallel with the row of staple cavities, wherein the second electrode assembly is stepped relative to the row of staple cavities;

a longitudinal sealing step raised from the cartridge deck relative to the row of staple cavities; and

a locally-adjustable resistance element coupled to the second electrode assembly, wherein the locally-adjustable resistance element is configured to adaptively control current through the second electrode assembly.

16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the locally-adjustable resistance element comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material.

17 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the locally-adjustable resistance element is coupled in series with the second electrode assembly.

18 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the locally-adjustable resistance element is coupled in parallel with the second electrode assembly.

19 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the second electrode assembly comprises a higher energy density than the first electrode assembly.

20 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the locally-adjustable resistance element is a second locally-adjustable resistance element, wherein the anvil comprises a first locally-adjustable resistance element coupled to the first electrode assembly, and wherein the first locally-adjustable resistance element comprises a different transition temperature than the second locally-adjustable resistance element.