Vessel sealing forceps with disposable electrodes

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a forceps (210) having opposing end effectors (280, 282) and a handle (218) for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another, and electrode assembly (21) removably attachable to the forceps, the electrode assembly including a pair of opposing electrodes (110, 120) attached to a distal end thereof, each of the electrodes being removably engageable with one of the end effectors such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation to one another, at least one stop member (139, 239, 339, 439) for controlling the distance between the opposing electrodes, the stop member being selectively engageable with an end effector to allow a user to vary the gap distance between the electrodes.