Patent ID: 9232974
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough; an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including a movable jaw member and a fixed jaw member, the movable jaw member pivotable relative to the fixed jaw member about a pivot pin, the movable jaw member including a pivot flange comprising a protrusion that extends therefrom; a movable handle coupled to the housing; and a tubular reciprocating sleeve operably coupled to the movable handle and configured to pivot the movable 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, the tubular reciprocating sleeve including an aperture at a distal end thereof defined by an edge surrounding the aperture, the aperture configured to receive the protrusion of the pivot flange of the movable jaw member such that proximal translation of the tubular reciprocating sleeve relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft in response to proximal movement of the movable handle relative to the housing urges the edge into engagement with the protrusion of the pivot flange of the movable jaw member to pivot the movable jaw member from the first position to the second position, wherein each of the movable and fixed jaw members is 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.