Patent ID: 7766910

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing; a shaft coupled 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, the shaft including a drive sleeve slidingly disposed therein; a drive assembly operable 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 rotatable about a pivot pin to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot pin located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis; a knife assembly having a movable knife bar that includes a generally t-shaped proximal end dimensioned to engage a corresponding slot defined within the housing, the slot guiding the movement of the knife bar during translation thereof, wherein the drive sleeve of the shaft couples to the drive assembly for moving the jaw members and the knife assembly includes a cuff at the distal end of the knife bar, the cuff being dimensioned to encapsulate and move atop the drive sleeve upon movement of the knife bar; and a finger actuator associated with the knife assembly that includes two generally u-shaped flanges that rotate about a second pivot to abut and force the cuff distally which, in turn, results in distal translation of the knife bar.