Patent ID: 7922718

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, one of the shaft members including a flange that mechanically interfaces with a corresponding opening defined within the other of the shaft members; 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 cutting slot defined along a length thereof, the cutting slot being dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting instrument therealong; an actuator which selectively reciprocates the cutting instrument to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members; and a lockout including a spring biased within the opening defined in the other of the shaft members to prevent reciprocation of the cutting instrument when the jaw members are disposed in the first position, the spring being disengaged by the flange when the jaw members are moved to the second position.