Patent ID: 8394096

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 shaft members movable relative to each other to move the jaw members about a pivot 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 said jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing surface for communicating electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; at least one of the jaw members including a cutting slot defined along a length thereof, the cutting slot configured to accommodate reciprocation of a cutting instrument therethrough; an actuator operably coupled to one of the first and second shaft members for selectively advancing the cutting instrument from a first position wherein the cutting instrument is disposed proximal to tissue held between the jaw members to at least one subsequent position wherein the cutting instrument is disposed distal to tissue held between the jaw members, wherein upon movement of the jaw members to the at least one subsequent position to grasp tissue therebetween, the shaft members are further moveable toward each other to at least one of a plurality of positions corresponding to a specific closing force between the jaw members; and a lockout formed on a part of at least one of the jaw members, the lockout configured to engage the cutting instrument to prevent advancement of the cutting instrument through tissue.