Patent ID: 8636687

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument for treatment of tissue with distal end effectors comprising: i. a jaw assembly of paired first and second opposing jaw members moveable between an open and closed position for grasping and delivering energy to target tissue, the jaw assembly having a distal end forming a tip of the jaw assembly and a proximal end opposite the distal end; ii. at least one jaw member having an inner area of its grasping surface that is conductive for the sealing of tissue; iii. at least one jaw member containing an outer region on the entire perimeter of the jaw's grasping surface that is non-conductive, and the outer region configured to apply a sealing force around the perimeter of the jaw, the sealing force sufficient to prevent the substantial escape of steam from the tissue treatment site during application of electrical energy, and iv. said jaw assembly containing at least one channel in the jaw assembly configured to provide pressure relief by directing generated heat and moisture back within the jaw assembly toward the proximate end of the jaw assembly.