Patent ID: 8292886

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom including an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly having a pair of jaw members movable between an open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to each other and a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a knife assembly including a cutter having a generally circular cross-section and configured to cut the tissue when the jaw members are in the closed position; at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate disposed on each of the jaw members, the electrically conductive tissue sealing plates adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue held between the jaw members to effect a tissue seal; a knife channel spirally disposed through at least one of the jaw members to define a substantially helical shape, wherein the cutter is configured to reciprocate within the knife channel when the jaw members are in the closed position to divide tissue grasped therebetween; and an actuator operably coupled to the knife assembly and configured to selectively reciprocate the cutter through the knife channel to divide tissue.