Patent ID: 8568412

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly having a pair of jaw members selectively positionable relative to one another about a pivot, at least one of the jaw members including an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source and at least one of the jaw members including a first sidewall and a second sidewall that together define a curved blade channel that extends between, and along, the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall being disposed opposite each other; and a cutting blade configured for selective translation within the curved blade channel; wherein a proximal portion of the first sidewall is manufactured to include an incident angle of less than five degrees that the cutting blade engages during translation thereof to direct the cutting blade towards a specific point of contact on the second sidewall of the curved blade channel; wherein the pair of jaw members are curved in a first direction away from a longitudinal axis defined by a shaft of the forceps at a first longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis, and wherein at the first longitudinal location along the longitudinal axis, the curved blade channel is curved in a second direction, the first direction and second direction being opposite directions.