Patent ID: 7963965

Claim:
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument, comprising: inner and outer members each including a jaw member having an opposable seal surface disposed thereon, the inner and outer members being movable from a first position wherein the opposable seal surfaces are disposed in spaced-apart relation relative to one another to a second position to facilitate grasping tissue between the opposable seal surfaces; at least one connector in electrical communication with the opposable seal surfaces and adapted to electrically couple the opposable seal surfaces to a source of electrosurgical energy to facilitate conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue disposed therebetween during usage of the instrument; and a ratchet disposed on one of the inner and outer members and at least one complementary interlocking mechanical interface disposed on the other of the inner and outer members, at least one of the ratchet and the interlocking mechanical interface selectively engageable with one of the inner and outer members and configured to insulate the inner and outer members from one another, the ratchet and the complementary interlocking mechanical interface defining at least one interlocking position to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm 2 to about 16 kg/cm 2 between opposable seal surfaces.