Patent ID: 8197479

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft affixed to the housing having an end effector engaged at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including two jaw members, at least one being movable from a first position in spaced relation to one another to at least a second position closer to one another for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal; the end effector assembly including a knife channel defined therein having proximal and distal ends; a knife blade translatable within the knife channel from the proximal end to the distal end to sever tissue; and a locking mechanism operatively associated with the end effector assembly adapted to block distal translation of the knife blade along the knife channel when the knife blade is in a retracted position and the jaw members are disposed in the first position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a notch defined within the knife blade, the notch having a proximal edge to engage a proximal edge of one of the jaw members to block distal translation of the knife blade when engaged.