Patent ID: 8317787

Claim:
A bipolar forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly having opposing first and second jaw members, each of said jaw members including an electrode having an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that the electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting energy to tissue disposed therebetween; and a pivot mechanism operably connected to the jaw members that is configured to allow selective movement of the jaw members relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the pivot mechanism configured to promote substantially parallel movement of the jaw members through a range of motion between the first position and the second position, the pivot mechanism including: a first arm member extending from the first jaw member to the second jaw member, the first arm member directly pivotally attached to each of the first and second jaw members; and a second arm member extending from the first jaw member to the second jaw member, the second arm member directly pivotally attached to each of the first and second jaw members, wherein the first and second arm members and the first and second jaw members together define a parallelogram.