Patent ID: 8574231

Claim:
A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising: a handle, comprising: a trigger; and an electrical input; a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a conductor, wherein said trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple said electrical input and said conductor; and an end effector, comprising: a first jaw member, comprising: an electrode electrically coupled with said conductor, wherein said electrode is configured to generate heat when electrical energy is supplied to said electrode, and wherein said electrode comprises a top surface; and an insulator positioned adjacent to said electrode, wherein said insulator is at least partially positioned within said first jaw member, wherein said insulator comprises a top tissue-bearing surface movable between a first position and a second position relative to said top surface of said electrode, wherein said insulator comprises a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, wherein said first lateral portion is positioned laterally with respect to said second lateral portion, wherein said first lateral portion and said second lateral portion are at least partially separated by a channel, and wherein said top tissue-bearing surface of said insulator is closer to said top surface of said electrode when said insulator is in said first position than when said insulator is in said second position; and a second jaw member, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member to clamp tissue intermediate said first jaw member and said second jaw member; and a driver slidable longitudinally relative to said insulator in order to support and move said first lateral portion and said second lateral portion of said insulator between said first position and said second position.