Electrosurgical forceps with slow closure sealing plates and method of sealing tissue

A method for sealing tissue comprising the steps of:

• providing electrosurgical bipolar forceps comprising at least one shaft member having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including a sealing plate which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween, at least one of the sealing plates including at least one adjustable stop member coupled to at least one controller, the at least one adjustable stop member adapted for separating the sealing plates by a predetermined gap distance and the at least one controller adapted for adjusting the at least one adjustable stop member to close the sealing plates at a predetermined rate;
• extending the at least one adjustable stop member to adjust the gap distance based upon at least one pre-surgical parameter;
• actuating the jaw members to grasp tissue between the sealing plates;
• and
• retracting the at least one adjustable stop member at the predetermined rate based upon the at least one pre-surgical parameter to close the sealing plates around the tissue while simultaneously conducting energy to the sealing plates through the tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal.