Patent ID: 8894638

Claim:
A surgical apparatus for welding and severing tissue comprising: a handle; a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is relatively movable with respect to the second jaw, wherein the first and second jaws are controlled by the handle and wherein each of the jaws comprises a jaw-facing surface; wherein the first jaw further comprises: a soft insulating material that resists tissue adhesion and forms an exterior surface of the first jaw; a first heating element supported on the material, wherein the first heating element is configured for welding tissue and is provided on the jaw-facing surface of the first jaw, the first heating element being adapted to heat up to a first temperature upon application of power wherein a distal end of the first heating element bends over a distal end of the material, and is at least partially positioned within an opening defined in the distal end of the material; and a second heating element supported on the material, wherein the second heating element is configured for severing tissue and is provided on the jaw-facing surface of the first jaw, the second heating element being adapted to heat up to a second temperature greater than the first temperature upon application of power.