Patent ID: 7255697

Claim:
An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing having a handle attached thereto; an elongated shaft attached to a distal end of said housing, said elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, at least one of said jaw members being movable relative to the other jaw member by said actuator 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 cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one jaw member being adapted to connect to an electrical energy source; and an outer sleeve which mechanically cooperates with said actuator and said at least one movable jaw member to selectively pivot said at least one movable jaw member from the first to second positions, said outer sleeve being configured to provide electrical continuity between said jaw members and said electrical energy source upon activation of the forceps.