Electrosurgical sealer and divider

A tissue sealing instrument, comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• a pair of opposing jaws coupled to a distal portion of the elongated shaft by a pin, the pair of opposing jaws including a first jaw and a second jaw that are rotatable about the pin relative to the elongated shaft, the first and second jaws being shaped and configured to move between a closed position for clamping and sealing tissue therebetween and an open position, each of the first and second jaws comprising an electrically conductive core member, a sealing surface, a first non-conductive bushing, and a second non-conductive bushing;
• a first wire affixed to the first jaw at a first connection location proximal to the pin;
• a second wire affixed to the second jaw at a second connection location proximal to the pin;
• and
• a linkage mechanism configured to move the pair of opposing jaws,
• wherein the first non-conductive bushings of the first and second jaws are separate, non-integral components disposed around the pin to electrically isolate the pin from the pair of opposing jaws,
• wherein the second non-conductive bushings electrically isolate the linkage mechanism from the pair of opposing jaws;
• wherein the first wire extends from a first location that is closer to a first distal longitudinal side of the tissue sealing instrument than a second distal longitudinal side of the tissue sealing instrument, to a second location that is closer to the second distal longitudinal side of the tissue sealing instrument than the first distal longitudinal side of the tissue sealing instrument, wherein the second distal longitudinal side of the tissue sealing instrument is opposite from the first distal longitudinal side of the tissue sealing instrument;
• wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a rod having a channel extending transversely in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the first wire extends transversely through the channel of the rod;
• and
• wherein the elongated shaft comprises a tube portion, and wherein the first wire extends from the second location to a third location that is between an inner surface of the tube portion and the rod of the linkage mechanism.