An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a shaft having a movable jaw member and a fixed jaw member at a distal end thereof, each jaw member being adapted to be connectable to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal; a drive assembly for moving the movable jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member from a first position in which the movable jaw member is disposed in spaced relation relative to the fixed jaw member to a second position in which the movable jaw member is closer to the fixed jaw member for manipulating tissue; a movable handle moveable relative to a housing of the forceps for actuating the drive assembly to move the movable jaw member; a trigger assembly operatively disposed to pivot relative to the housing and the movable handle for selectively advancing a knife assembly for cutting tissue along a tissue seal effected in tissue held between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a generally donut-shaped collar which cooperates with a knife shaft to advance a knife through tissue upon activation of the trigger assembly, characterized in that:, the trigger assembly includes a trigger configured as a finger actuator and a flange having two C-shaped legs (577a, 577b) which extend on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of said shaft and are configured to abut a proximal end of the knife collar such that rotation of the trigger, in turn, rotates the C-shaped legs to cam against said proximal end of the knife collar to urge the knife collar distally for advancing the knife through tissue. a shaft having a movable jaw member and a fixed jaw member at a distal end thereof, each jaw member being adapted to be connectable to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal; a drive assembly for moving the movable jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member from a first position in which the movable jaw member is disposed in spaced relation relative to the fixed jaw member to a second position in which the movable jaw member is closer to the fixed jaw member for manipulating tissue; a movable handle moveable relative to a housing of the forceps for actuating the drive assembly to move the movable jaw member; a trigger assembly operatively disposed to pivot relative to the housing and the movable handle for selectively advancing a knife assembly for cutting tissue along a tissue seal effected in tissue held between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a generally donut-shaped collar which cooperates with a knife shaft to advance a knife through tissue upon activation of the trigger assembly, characterized in that:, the trigger assembly includes a trigger configured as a finger actuator and a flange having two C-shaped legs (577a, 577b) which extend on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of said shaft and are configured to abut a proximal end of the knife collar such that rotation of the trigger, in turn, rotates the C-shaped legs to cam against said proximal end of the knife collar to urge the knife collar distally for advancing the knife through tissue.