Patent ID: 7150749

Claim:
An endoscopic bipolar forceps, comprising: a shaft having a movable jaw member and a fixed jaw member at a distal end thereof; a drive assembly for moving the movable jaw member relative to the fixed jaw member from a first position wherein the movable jaw member is disposed in spaced relation relative to the fixed jaw member to a second position wherein the movable jaw member is closer to the fixed jaw member for manipulating tissue; a movable handle for actuating the drive assembly to move the movable jaw member; each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal; a trigger assembly operatively disposed relative to the movable handle for selectively advancing a knife assembly for cutting tissue along the tissue seal, the knife assembly including a generally donut-shaped collar which cooperates with a knife shaft to advance a knife through tissue upon activation of the trigger assembly, the trigger assembly including a trigger and a flange having two C-shaped legs which are configured to abut a proximal end of the knife collar such that rotation of the trigger, in turn, rotates the C-shaped legs and urges the knife collar distally to advance the knife through tissue.