An electrosurgical instrument for performing at least one of sealing and dividing tissue comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a first jaw member and a second jaw member; a drive rod assembly; a rotating assembly attached to the housing for rotating the jaw members (110, 120) about the longitudinal axis; a knife assembly attached to the housing for separating tissue grasped between the jaw members (110, 120); a handle assembly attached to the housing for actuating the drive rod assembly; and first and second electrical leads (31Oa, 31Ob) adapted to connect the jaw members to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; wherein: both the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed at a distal end of the shaft and are relatively movable from a first open position wherein the jaw members (110, 120) are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; said drive rod assembly is for imparting movement of the jaw members (110, 120) between the first and second positions; a handswitch attached to the housing is configured to allow a user to selectively energize the jaw members (110, 120); and a pair of non-conductive stop members disposed on an inner facing surface of at least one of the jaw members and at least one additional stop member disposed on the same inner facing surface of the same jaw member positioned in spaced relation to the pair of non-conductive stop members, the non-conductive stop members being dimensioned to regulate the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween. a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a first jaw member and a second jaw member; a drive rod assembly; a rotating assembly attached to the housing for rotating the jaw members (110, 120) about the longitudinal axis; a knife assembly attached to the housing for separating tissue grasped between the jaw members (110, 120); a handle assembly attached to the housing for actuating the drive rod assembly; and first and second electrical leads (31Oa, 31Ob) adapted to connect the jaw members to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; wherein: both the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed at a distal end of the shaft and are relatively movable from a first open position wherein the jaw members (110, 120) are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; said drive rod assembly is for imparting movement of the jaw members (110, 120) between the first and second positions; a handswitch attached to the housing is configured to allow a user to selectively energize the jaw members (110, 120); and a pair of non-conductive stop members disposed on an inner facing surface of at least one of the jaw members and at least one additional stop member disposed on the same inner facing surface of the same jaw member positioned in spaced relation to the pair of non-conductive stop members, the non-conductive stop members being dimensioned to regulate the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween. both the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed at a distal end of the shaft and are relatively movable from a first open position wherein the jaw members (110, 120) are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; said drive rod assembly is for imparting movement of the jaw members (110, 120) between the first and second positions; a handswitch attached to the housing is configured to allow a user to selectively energize the jaw members (110, 120); and a pair of non-conductive stop members disposed on an inner facing surface of at least one of the jaw members and at least one additional stop member disposed on the same inner facing surface of the same jaw member positioned in spaced relation to the pair of non-conductive stop members, the non-conductive stop members being dimensioned to regulate the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween.