Patent ID: 8469991

Claim:
An endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom and defines a longitudinal axis therethrough; an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and including a pair of first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable relative to the other jaw member from an open position, wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position, wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; and a drive mechanism including a driving structure having at least one detent supported thereon, the driving structure including a distal end with a distal tip in operative communication with at least one cam slot operably defined within the at least one movable jaw member, the distal end disposed distally relative to the at least one detent and proximally relative to the distal tip, wherein the distal end of the driving structure is substantially resilient and functions as a cantilever spring that is configured to flex away from the longitudinal axis when the distal tip is positioned at a proximal end of the cam slot and tissue is positioned between the first and second jaw members, wherein the at least one cam slot includes a generally straight configuration having a proximal end substantially aligned with a pivot pin that pivotably couples the first and second jaw members, and a distal end offset from the proximal end and above the pivot pin.