Patent ID: 8246618

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof, wherein the end effector assembly includes: first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another and moveable from a first position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members including a proximal flange adapted to communicate with a drive assembly for moving the jaw members between the first and second positions and at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined therein, a proximal end of the knife channel offset from the longitudinal axis defined through the shaft, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue disposed between the jaw members; and a knife guide assembled adjacent an outer surface of one of the proximal flanges of the jaw members on the same side as the proximal end of the knife channel, the knife guide defining a knife path therein that is configured to guide a knife into the knife channel for translation therethrough, wherein the knife guide includes a channel defined therein for guiding an electrical lead to the at least one of the jaw members for supplying electrosurgical energy thereto.