Patent ID: 7628791

Claim:
An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft affixed to the housing, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and an end effector assembly engaged at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including two jaw members moveable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to affect a tissue seal; a drive assembly disposed within the housing for moving the jaw members from the first position to the second position; a switch disposed within the housing which activates the electrosurgical energy source; a knife assembly which is advanceable to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members; a movable handle connected to the housing and selectively rotatable about a pivot, the pivot located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis, wherein continual actuation of the movable handle initially engages the drive assembly to move the jaw members, subsequently engages the switch to activate the electrosurgical energy source to seal the tissue, and subsequently advances the knife assembly to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.