Patent ID: 7799026

Claim:
A tissue or vessel sealing instrument, comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members attached thereto made from a substantially rigid material, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position for approximating tissue to at least one additional position for grasping tissue therebetween; each of the jaw members including an elastomeric material disposed on an inner facing tissue contacting surface thereof, the elastomeric material of the first jaw member completely surrounding a first electrode associated therewith, each of the electrodes including a planar tissue-contacting surface disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the first electrode and the second electrode being offset a distance X relative to one another, wherein the distance X is variable, wherein the distance X is transverse to the longitudinal axis, such that when the jaw members are closed about the tissue and when the electrodes are activated, electrosurgical energy flows through the tissue in a generally coplanar manner relative to tissue contacting surfaces and generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the elastomeric material being adapted to compress or deflect about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi; and wherein the substantially rigid material of the jaw members resists deformation when the force used to close the jaw members is between about 40 psi to about 230 psi.