Patent ID: 7828798

Claim:
A laparoscopic bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising: a handle selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members attached to a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one subsequent position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing surface and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; an electrically conductive pushrod for connecting the first jaw member to the source of electrosurgical energy; an electrically conductive tube for connecting the second jaw member to the source of electrosurgical energy; an electrically insulative yoke coupled to the pushrod and dimensioned to operatively engage each of the jaw members to affect movement thereof; an inner nose piece electrically connected between the first jaw member and the electrically conductive pushrod; an outer nose piece electrically connected between the second jaw member and the electrically conductive tube; wherein the inner nose piece and the outer nose piece capture the yoke; an inner insulator disposed between the electrically conductive tube and the electrically conductive pushrod; and an outer insulator disposed between the electrically conductive tube and the inner nose piece.