Jaw assemblies having electrically isolated jaws and consistent spacing between the jaws at full closure

A surgical device, comprising:

• an end effector comprising a first jaw with a first tissue engaging surface and a second jaw with a second tissue engaging surface, the first and second jaws being pivotably coupled, the first tissue engaging surface including an electrode, the second tissue engaging surface being opposed to the first tissue engaging surface, and the second jaw having formed therein a plurality of bores each extending from the second tissue engaging surface and toward an outer surface of the second jaw that is opposed to the second tissue engaging surface;
• at least one electrically insulative stop disposed in at least one of the plurality of bores formed in the second jaw, at least one other of the plurality of bores not having an electrically insulative stop disposed therein;
• an actuator operably connected to the end effector to move the end effector between an open configuration, in which neither of the first and second jaws applies a force to the respective first or second tissue engaging surface of the other of the first and second jaws, and a fully compressed configuration, in which at least one of the first and second jaws applies a force to the respective first or second tissue engaging surface of the other of the first and second jaws;
• and
• a driver configured to deliver energy to the electrode to seal tissue disposed between the first and second jaws when the end effector is in the fully compressed configuration,
• wherein whenever the end effector is in the fully compressed configuration, the at least one electrically insulative stop disposed in the at least one of the plurality of bores is engaged with the first tissue engaging surface, the second jaw is electrically isolated from the electrode of the first jaw, and a gap formed between the first and second jaws has a consistent size;
• wherein the at least one of the plurality of bores has a variable diameter along its length;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the plurality of bores has a diameter along its length that is less than a diameter of the at least one electrically insulative stop disposed therein and that is closer to the outer surface of the second jaw than to the second tissue engaging surface of the second jaw.