ASYMMETRICAL ELECTRODES FOR BIPOLAR VESSEL SEALING

An electrosurgical instrument, comprising: a first jaw member and a second jaw member disposed adjacent a distal end of the electrosurgical instrument, wherein each jaw member includes a first lateral side, a second lateral side, an outer housing and an inner tissue engaging surface, at least one jaw member being movable relative to the other jaw member from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate for grasping tissue therebetween; a knife channel extending through a lateral center of the inner tissue engaging surface of the first jaw member; and an electrode disposed on the inner tissue engaging surface of the first jaw member, the electrode including a first contact area and a second contact area, the first contact area disposed between the knife channel and the first lateral side of the first jaw member, and the second contact area disposed between the knife channel and the second lateral side of the first jaw member; wherein a width of the first contact area of the electrode is greater than a width of the second contact area of the electrode, the width of the first contact area and the width of the second contact area remaining substantially uniform along a length of the knife channel.