Patent ID: 7147638

Claim:
An electrode sealing assembly designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue, comprising: first and second jaw members each having an insulative housing including at least one electromechanical interface and being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including: an electrically conductive sealing plate having at least one corresponding electromechanical interface which mates with the electromechanical interface of the insulative housing; a thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive material disposed between the insulative housing and the electrically conductive sealing plate, the thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive material configured to engage at least one side of said sealing plate; and wherein the thermally conductive, electrically non-conductive material of at least one of the first and second jaw members includes projections which extend laterally from an outer periphery of the insulative housing.