Electrosurgical sealer and divider

An electrosurgical instrument comprising:

• a movable tissue cutting mechanism;
• a shaft housing at least a proximal portion of the movable tissue cutting mechanism;
• a pair of opposing jaws having a first jaw and a second jaw, the pair of opposing jaws shaped and configured to move between a closed position for clamping and sealing tissue therebetween and an open position, each one of the pair of opposing jaws comprising an electrically conductive core member, an elongated slot for receiving the movable tissue cutting mechanism, and a sealing surface having a sealing surface area, wherein the first jaw has a first pair of non-conductive bushings, and the second jaw has a second pair of non-conductive bushings, and wherein the conductive core member of each one of the jaws further shaped to receive the non-conductive bushings;
• a pin coupled to the shaft and a distal pair of non-conductive bushings in the jaws, wherein the pin passes through the distal pair of non-conductive bushings and the cutting mechanism, and wherein each one of the pair of opposing jaws is rotatable relative to the shaft, and wherein the movable tissue cutting mechanism is slidable relative to the shaft;
• a conductive medium operatively coupled to the conductive core member;
• and
• a first link having a distal end rotatably coupled to a proximal one of the pair of non-conductive bushings in the first jaw and a proximal end rotatably coupled to a rod, the rod interior of and translatable relative to the shaft;
• and
• wherein the first jaw further has a coating made of a substantially non-conductive material covering a substantial portion of the conductive core member but exposing the seal surface, whereby the first pair of non-conductive bushings and the coating are configured to substantially isolate the conductive core member and limit an energy path from the conductive medium to the seal surface of the first jaw;
• and
• wherein the second jaw further has a coating made of a substantially non-conductive material covering a substantial portion of the conductive core member but exposing the seal surface, whereby the second pair of non-conductive bushings and the coating are configured to substantially isolate the conductive core member and limit an energy path from the conductive medium to the seal surface of the second jaw.