Patent attributes
An electrosurgical system may comprise an RF current generator, a handle body, an end effector have a first jaw including a first energizing surface electrically contacting a first terminal of the RF generator, and a second jaw including a second energizing surface electrically contacting a second terminal of the RF current generator, in which the two jaws form a jaw angle. The system may also comprise a shunt impedance circuit including a shunt impedance element having a pre-determined impedance value, in which the shunt impedance element is reversibly placed electrically in parallel with the first and second energizing surfaces when the jaw angle is at least a pre-determined angle. The system may also comprise an impedance detector in electrical communication with the first and second energizing surfaces. The system may be used to measure an impedance between the first and second energizing surfaces by the impedance detector.
