Patent ID: 7744615

Claim:
An electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue, comprising: a pair of 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 adapted to connect to an energy source and configured to communicate energy through tissue held therebetween; and at least one of the jaw members having a blade channel defined therein configured for sliding redemption of a surgical blade assembly, the blade channel including a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of troughs positioned therebetween, wherein the blade assembly includes: a blade body having a plurality of cutting elements extending therealong, each of said cutting elements including a cutting edge and a flange opposite the cutting edge, said blade body being selectively movable from a first position wherein said cutting edges of said cutting elements are recessed within said blade channel such that said cutting edges are positioned below the electrically conductive sealing plate and said flanges rest within corresponding troughs to at least one second position wherein said cutting edges are positioned above said electrically conductive sealing plate and into tissue grasped between the jaw members.