Surgical instrument

摘要

A surgical instrument can comprise a first drive system for advancing a knife bar between a first position and a second position in order to close a jaw, or clamping, member of an end effector. The first drive system can comprise a toggle clamp which can generate and transmit an asymptotical clamping load to the jaw member. The surgical instrument can further comprise a second drive system for advancing the knife bar between the second position and a third position. The surgical instrument can comprise a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock can be engaged with a drive shaft in order to prevent the drive shaft from being advanced when the lock is in its locked position. The surgical instrument can further comprise an electrical input and, in addition, a switch movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. The surgical instrument can further supplying energy to tissue and can comprise an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, wherein, a tissue-grasping portion can comprise a plurality of teeth, wherein the tissue-grasping portion is comprised of an electrically non-conductive material. The surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue can comprise a jaw member comprising an electrode, and an insulator positioned adjacent to the electrode, wherein the insulator comprises a top surface movable between a first position and a second position relative to the top surface of the electrode, and wherein the top surface of the insulator is closer to the top surface of the electrode when the insulator is in the first position than when the insulator is in the second position. The surgical instrument can comprise at least one steam path within the electrode, wherein the at least one steam path is configured to vent steam generated when the tissue is heated by the electrode.