Patent ID: 7753909

Claim:
An electrode sealing assembly designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising: first and second jaw members each having an electrically insulative housing including at least one electromechanical interface and being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including: an electrically conductive sealing plate having at least one corresponding electromechanical interface which mates with the electromechanical interface of the insulative housing; a thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive material disposed between the insulative housing and the electrically conductive sealing plate, the thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive material configured to engage at least one side of said sealing plate, wherein the thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive material of at least one jaw member includes projections that extend laterally therefrom, wherein the electrically insulative housing of at least one jaw member includes a support step that extends relative to an upper surface of the insulative housing, the support step dimensioned to support the sealing plate thereon.