Patent ID: 8702737

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: first and second shaft members each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, at least one of the shaft members moveable relative to the other about a pivot pin between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to move the jaw members between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween; and a knife assembly operatively engaged within the second shaft members, the knife assembly including: an arm extending through a longitudinal trough defined within the second shaft member, the arm having a knife disposed at a distal end thereof and engaged to the second shaft member at a proximal end thereof, the arm moveable between a first position, corresponding to a retracted position of the knife, wherein the arm defines an arched portion that extends from the second shaft member, and a second position, wherein the arched portion defines a more linear configuration such that the arm is elongated distally to advance the knife to an extended position, wherein the knife extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween, wherein the arm is configured to longitudinally translate between the pivot pin and the second shaft member during movement of the arm between the first and second positions, the pivot pin configured to retain the arm within the trough during movement of the arm between the first and second positions.