Patent ID: 7811283

Claim:
An open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, comprising: a pair of first and second shaft members each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing plate for communicating electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined along a length thereof, the knife channel being dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong; and an actuator operatively connected to one of the shaft members for selectively advancing the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members; and a safety lockout to prevent reciprocation of the cutting mechanism when the jaw members are disposed in the first position, the safety lockout forming part of at least one of the jaw members.