Surgical tissue sealer

A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly, the method comprising:

• grasping a gap-setting gauge between first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and an approximated position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• inserting an adjustable stop member into at least one of the first and second jaw members;
• setting the first and second jaw members such that in the approximated position the jaw members cooperate to define a gap distance between the jaw members equivalent to the thickness of the gap-setting gauge;
• and
• securing the adjustable stop member to the at least one of the first and second jaw members such that when positioning tissue between the jaw members, full approximation of the jaw members is limited to the gap distance.

A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly, the method comprising:

• providing first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second position closer to one another wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• releasably attaching a stop member to the first jaw member, the second jaw member including a cavity configured to receive the stop member therein to set a gap distance, each of the stop member and the cavity including at least one surface feature, each of which being configured to interlockingly engage with each other, thereby securing the stop member within the second jaw member;
• detaching the stop member from the first jaw member to set the gap distance;
• grasping a gap-setting gauge between the first and second jaw members;
• and
• setting the first and second jaw members such that in the second position the jaw members cooperate to define the gap distance between the jaw members equivalent to the thickness of the gap-setting gauge such that when positioning tissue between the jaw members full approximation of the jaws is limited to the gap distance.