Patent ID: 7270664

Claim:
An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and/or cutting vessels and/or tissue, the end effector assembly comprising: a pair of opposing first and second jaw members at least one of which is movable relative to the other from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface being adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal; an insulative support element configured to support each electrically conductive sealing surface; an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within a slot defined in at least one jaw member; and a rigid structural support disposed within the insulative support of the at least one jaw member having the electrically conductive cutting element configured in general vertical registration with the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface including at least one flow channel defined therein.