End effector for electrosurgical instrument

A surgical instrument comprising;

• i) a handle,
• ii) an elongate shaft attached to the handle,
• iii) an end effector located at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a pair of opposing first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members being pivotable relative to the other between a first open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, and a second closed position in which the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween,
• iv) first and second connections by which the jaw members can be connected to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal,
• v) an actuation mechanism associated with the handle for moving the jaw members between their open and closed positions,
• the end effector including one or more spring members connected between the first and second jaw members such that moving the jaw members from their open position to their closed position causes the one or more spring members to compress, the one or more spring members having a fully compressed condition such that when in their fully compressed condition the one or more spring members form stop members to maintain the first and second jaw members at a predetermined spacing one from the other when in their closed position.