An electrosurgical forceps (100) includes an end effector (115) including a first jaw member (150) having a proximal portion (150a) including a first jaw guide member (152b) and a distal portion (150b) including a first tissue contacting surface (154), and a second jaw member (160) having a proximal portion (160a) including a second jaw guide member (162b) and a distal portion (160b) including a second tissue contacting surface (164). The first and second tissue contacting surfaces (154, 164) each includes a shear edge (154d, 164d) disposed between stepped surfaces (154a, 154b, 164a, 164b). The jaw members (150, 160) are vertically movable between an open position and a first approximated position in which the tissue contacting surfaces (154, 164) vertically oppose and laterally align with each other, and laterally movable between the first approximated position and a second approximated position to laterally displace the tissue contacting surfaces (154, 164) with respect to each other. The jaw guide members (152b, 162b) control an open angle between the jaw members (150, 160) during movement between the first and second approximated positions.L'invention concerne une pince électrochirurgicale (100) comprenant un effecteur d'extrémité (115) équipé d'un premier élément mâchoire (150) présentant une partie proximale (150a) comprenant un premier élément de guidage de mâchoire (152b) et une partie distale (150b) comprenant une première surface en contact avec le tissu (154), et un second élément mâchoire (160) présentant une partie proximale (160a) comprenant un second élément de guidage de mâchoire (162b) et une partie distale (160b) comprenant une seconde surface en contact avec le tissu (164). Les première et seconde surfaces en contact avec le tissu (154, 164) comprennent chacune un bord de cisaillement (154d, 164d) disposé entre des surfaces étagées (154a, 154b, 164a, 164b). Les éléments mâchoire (150, 160) sont mobiles verticalement entre une position ouverte et u
