Patent ID: 8241282

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft affixed to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal; a drive assembly that moves the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue; a movable handle being rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions; and a cutting assembly including at least one blade element disposed within one of said jaw members, said blade element being selectively moveable from a first recessed position within said jaw member to a second extended position for cutting tissue, said cutting assembly including a remote actuator that reciprocates a camming element to move said at least one blade element between the first and second positions, wherein said actuator includes a sleeve that is selectively movable over said jaw members to cam said at least one blade element into tissue.