Patent ID: 8636761

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, the housing including a drive assembly operable to reciprocate an actuation tube within the shaft; and an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft having a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration, at least one of the first and second jaw members pivotable about a living hinge from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a clamping position wherein the jaw members are moved closer to one another for grasping tissue, at least one of the jaw members including a cam slot defined at a proximal end thereof at a position that is distal relative to the living hinge, wherein the at least one jaw member is operatively connected to a distal end of the actuation tube via a cam pin that operatively engages the cam slot such that proximal reciprocation of the actuation tube moves the cam pin proximally within the cam slot and cams the at least one jaw member towards the other jaw member about the living hinge, wherein the jaw members are housed within the distal end of the shaft when the jaw members are in the closed configuration.