Patent ID: 8647342

Claim:
A surgical apparatus for coagulating and cutting tissue, said apparatus comprising: a handle assembly including a housing; a tool cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, said cartridge at least partially receivable in said housing of said handle assembly; said tool cartridge including: a first jaw and a second jaw for grasping tissue therebetween wherein at least said first jaw is hingably movable between an open position and a closed position, said first jaw including an actuation portion and a grasping portion wherein said grasping portion extends longitudinally from said actuation portion, a first jaw connection wire operatively connected to said actuation portion of said first jaw, a substantially cylindrical sheath encompassing at least part of said first jaw connection wire, wherein a side portion of the substantially cylindrical sheath includes a longitudinal slit, a grip disposed around at least part of said sheath and slidably engaging said sheath, and a piston disposed within said sheath and operatively connected to said grip such that said grip and piston move in relation with one another, said piston being connected to said grip by a pin slideable within said longitudinal slit of said sheath, wherein a slideable movement of said grip with respect to said sheath is limited by a slideable movement of said pin within said slit, and said first jaw connection wire being operatively connected to said piston for moving said first jaw in response to movement of said grip; and said handle assembly further including a jaw actuation lever operatively engagable with said grip of said tool cartridge such that said grip and said first jaw connection wire move to actuate said first jaws in relation to actuation of said jaws actuation lever.