Patent ID: 8016827

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom including an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly having a wheel assembly opposing a jaw member, the wheel assembly having a pair of opposing wheels configured to facilitate movement of the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member; a drive rod operably coupled at a proximal end to a movable handle and at a distal end to the wheel assembly, the movable handle movable relative to a stationary handle to move the wheel assembly relative to the jaw member; and at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing plate disposed on each of the wheel assembly and the jaw member, the electrically conductive tissue sealing plates adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue held between the wheel assembly and the jaw member to effect a tissue seal; wherein the drive rod is operably coupled at a distal end to a mechanical interface disposed between the pair of wheels, the pair of wheels configured to rotate about the mechanical interface such that proximal movement of the drive rod causes rotation of the pair of wheels in a first direction to move the wheel assembly proximally relative to the jaw member, and distal movement of the drive rod causes rotation of the pair of wheels in a second direction to move the wheel assembly distally relative to the jaw member.