Patent ID: 7931649

Claim:
An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing, coagulating and/or cutting vessels and/or tissue, the end effector assembly comprising: a pair of opposing first and second jaw members at least one of which is movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a seal; an insulative support element configured to support each electrically conductive tissue sealing surface; a first electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulative support element of the first jaw member; a second electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulative support element of the second jaw member, the second electrically conductive cutting element generally opposing the first electrically conductive cutting element; and at least one channel defined within at least one of the insulative support elements, the at least one channel configured to transport fluid adjacent to the electrically conductive cutting element.