Patent ID: 7887536

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument for use in open surgery, comprising: first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members being adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that electrosurgical energy may be selectively communicated through tissue held between the jaw members to effect a tissue seal, at least one jaw member including a knife channel defined therein configured to reciprocate a knife therealong for severing tissue held between the jaw members; at least one stop member operatively coupled to at least one of the jaw members or at least one of the shafts, the at least one stop member being configured to control a gap distance between jaw members to within a range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches; and a locking mechanism operably coupled to at least one shaft for locking the jaw members in the second closed position and for regulating the closure pressure between jaw members between about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2.