Patent ID: 8211105

Claim:
An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting movement of the end effectors relative to one another, comprising: a housing having at least one portion which removably engages at least one portion of the electrosurgical instrument; a pair of electrodes each including an electrically conductive sealing surface and an insulating substrate, the electrodes being removably engageable with respective end effectors of the electrosurgical instrument such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation relative to one another, the dimensions of the insulating substrate differing from the dimensions of the electrically conductive sealing surface to reduce thermal spread to adjacent tissue structures, the insulating substrate having first and second lateral edges; and at least one compliant material disposed proximate the outer periphery of at least one of the electrodes and along either of the first and second lateral edges of the insulating substrate such that either of the first and second lateral edges of the insulating substrate are disposed between the at least one compliant material and either of corresponding first and second lateral edges of the electrically conductive sealing surface, the at least one compliant material having a height dimension sufficient to project an edge of the at least one compliant material above the first and second lateral edges of the electrically conductive sealing surfaces, the at least one compliant material configured thereby to reduce thermal spread from either of the first and second lateral edges of the electrically conductive sealing surface to surrounding tissue.