Patent ID: 8343151

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation and moveable from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, wherein the jaw members include knife blade channels defined therein and wherein at least one of the knife blade channels includes a knife base portion and a knife edge portion, the knife base portion having an enclosed polygonal longitudinal cross-section defined within one of the first and second jaw members that opens toward the knife edge portion; and a knife including a knife edge and a knife base, the knife base including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a polygonal longitudinal cross-section corresponding to the polygonal longitudinal cross-section of the knife base portion of the at least one knife blade channel, wherein the knife is configured to translate through the knife blade channels and the top and bottom surfaces of the knife base are configured to slidingly engage surfaces of the jaw member that define the knife base portion of the at least one knife blade channel upon translation of the knife through the knife blade channels.