US Patent 8961513 Surgical tissue sealer

A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between a first, spaced-apart position and a second position proximate tissue, wherein, in the second position, the jaw members cooperate to define a cavity that is configured to receive tissue between the jaw members and a resilient electrically conductive sealing surface operably coupled to at least one jaw member, the resilient electrically conductive sealing surface selectively positionable from a first unflexed position to a second flexed position.