Patent ID: 8679114

Claim:
An electrode sealing assembly designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising: first and second jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, the jaw members including: electrically conductive sealing plates disposed in opposing relation to one another, at least one jaw member including: a thermoelectric cooling plate having a first surface in direct contact with an outer surface of the sealing plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate including first and second electrical connections disposed on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first connection configured to selectively transmit a first electrical potential and the second connection configured to selectively transmit a second electrical potential such that heat generated by the sealing plates is transferred away from the tissue via the thermoelectric cooling plate, wherein the electrically conductive seal plates each include inward lateral side edges, the inward lateral side edges and the first surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate configured to form a knife slot therebetween dimensioned to receive a knife blade therein, the knife blade disposed substantially adjacent and in proximity to the thermoelectric cooling plate to enable heat transfer from the knife blade to the thermoelectric cooling plate, and wherein the at least one jaw member further includes a first heat sink disposed in contact with a second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the first heat sink made from a thermally conductive, electrically insulative cool polymer.