Patent ID: 7252667

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; 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 knife channel defined along a length thereof, the knife channel being dimensioned to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong; an actuator for selectively advancing the cutting mechanism from a first position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting mechanism is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members, the actuator including a trigger which cooperates with a rack and pinion system to advance the cutting mechanism between its first and second positions; and wherein the rack and pinion system includes a first gear-like rack in mechanical cooperation with the trigger, a second gear-like rack in mechanical cooperation with the cutting mechanism, and a pinion rotatable about an axis disposed between the first and second gear-like racks.