Patent ID: 7955332

Claim:
An open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, comprising: first and second shaft portions pivotably associated with one another, each shaft portion 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 surface being configured to communicate electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween, at least one of the jaw members including a slot formed through the sealing surface thereof; a cutting mechanism operatively associated with the first and second jaw members, the cutting mechanism including: a cutting element disposed within the slot of the at least one jaw member, the cutting element being movable about a pivot from a first position wherein the cutting element is retracted within the at least one jaw member and a second position in which a cutting edge of the cutting element at least partially projects from a sealing surface of the at least one jaw member, the cutting element including a biasing member at a proximal end thereof, the biasing member operably disposed within the jaw member and configured for biasing the cutting element toward the first position and pivoting the cutting element, the biasing member including a notched portion configured to facilitate pivoting the cutting element between the first and second positions, the notched portion disposed proximal relative to the pivot and extending to the cutting edge of the cutting element; and an actuator operatively associated with the cutting element which upon movement thereof selectively advances the cutting element from the first position to the second position.