Patent ID: 8425511

Claim:
An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly including: first, second, third and fourth elongated jaw quadrant members, each jaw quadrant member including a tissue sealing surface and a shearing surface, the tissue sealing surfaces of the first and third jaw quadrant members opposing one another, the tissue sealing surfaces of the second and fourth jaw quadrant members opposing one another, the shearing surfaces of the first and second jaw quadrant members opposing one another, and the shearing surfaces of the third and fourth jaw quadrant members opposing one another; and wherein the jaw quadrant members are moveable in each of a grasping mode and a cutting mode, the first and second jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another and the third and fourth jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another relative to and in an opposite direction with respect to the first and second jaw quadrant members during the grasping mode for grasping tissue between the sealing surfaces of the jaw quadrant members, the first and third jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another and the second and fourth jaw quadrant members moving in unison with one another relative to and in an opposite direction with respect to the first and third jaw quadrant members during the cutting motion for shear-cutting tissue disposed between the shearing surfaces of the jaw quadrant members.