Patent ID: 9241759
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, extending distally from the housing, and having a movable jaw member and a fixed jaw member at a distal end thereof, each of the movable and fixed jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the movable and fixed jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween; a drive sleeve defining a proximal end and a distal end, the drive sleeve operably coupled to the movable jaw member at the distal end of the drive sleeve and configured to move the movable jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member from a first position wherein the movable jaw member is disposed in spaced relation relative to the fixed jaw member to a second position wherein the movable jaw member is closer to the fixed jaw member; a movable handle of unitary construction having a finger loop positioned towards a first end thereof, a drive flange positioned towards a second end thereof, and a locking flange disposed between the finger loop and the drive flange, the drive flange operably coupled to the drive sleeve towards the proximal end of the drive sleeve such that movement of the movable handle from an open position to a closed position moves the movable jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member from the first position to the second position; a selectively advanceable knife operable to cut the tissue grasped between the movable and fixed jaw members in a distal direction; and a selectively actuatable finger actuator operably coupled to the selectively advanceable knife, wherein, when the movable handle is disposed in the open position, the locking flange impedes actuation of the finger actuator and advancement of the selectively advanceable knife to cut the tissue grasped between the movable and fixed jaw members.