PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a forcep for effectively sealing and/or cutting tissue by adopting a unique combination of a mechanical clamp force and an electric surgical energy.SOLUTION: An electrode assembly 205 includes a pair of facing first jaw member 210 and second jaw member 220 including conductive tissue sealing surfaces 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b. The first jaw member 210 includes a conductive cutting element 227. A cutting zone 228 is defined between the conductive tissue sealing surface and the cutting element. Energy is applied to a first potential to the cutting element of the first jaw member 210 and the conductive tissue sealing surface during a sealing process. Energy is applied to a potential different from the first one to the conductive tissue sealing surface of the second jaw member for sealing the tissue. Energy is applied to potential different from the cutting element to the conductive tissue sealing surface on the respective jaw members during the cutting process for cutting the tissue.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】機械的クランプ圧力と電気外科エネルギーとの独特な組み合わせを適用して、組織を効果的に密封および/または切断する、鉗子を提供する。【解決手段】導電性組織密封表面212a、212b、222a、222bを備える、対向する1対の第一の顎部材210および第二の顎部材220を備える電極アセンブリ205であって、第一の顎部材210は、導電性切断要素227を備え、導電性組織密封表面と切断要素との間に、切断ゾーン228が規定され、第一の顎部材210上の切断要素および該導電性組織密封表面は、密封プロセスの間、第一の電位までエネルギーを付与され、そして該第二の顎部材上の導電性組織密封表面は、第一の電位とは異なる電位までエネルギーを付与され組織の密封を行い、そして切断プロセスの間、それぞれの顎部材上の導電性組織密封表面は、該切断要素とは異なる電位までエネルギーを付与され組織を切断し得る電極アセンブリ。【選択図】図2
