Patent ID: 8888775

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including: a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one jaw member moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween; and a shape memory cutting wire extending longitudinally along one of the jaw members, the shape memory cutting wire having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, the first and second end portions coupled to the jaw member such that the intermediate portion is suspended therebetween, the shape memory cutting wire transitionable between a retracted state, wherein the intermediate portion is positioned adjacent the jaw member, and an extended state, wherein the intermediate portion extends between the jaw members to cut tissue disposed therebetween.