Patent ID: 8298232

Claim:
An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft affixed to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal; a drive assembly including a selectively advanceable drive sleeve configured to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for manipulating tissue; a movable handle being rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot being located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis whereas the drive flange being located generally along the longitudinal axis; a selectively advanceable knife assembly having a knife bar which moves a knife to cut tissue between jaw members; and a knife lockout mechanism operatively connected to the drive assembly wherein movement of the drive assembly moves the knife lockout mechanism from a first orientation in obstructive relationship with the knife bar to prevent movement thereof to a second position which allows selective, unencumbered movement of the knife bar to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members, wherein the drive assembly includes a drive stop disposed near the proximal end thereof, the drive stop being operatively engaged with the knife lockout mechanism such that selective movement of the drive assembly causes the drive stop to move the knife lockout mechanism between the first orientation and the second position.