Patent ID: 8162965

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: at least one shaft configured to support a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members movable to grasp tissue therebetween; a cutting assembly including: a spring element having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the spring element being fixed, wherein the spring element is coiled and biased at the proximal end thereof; a joining member disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the spring element and configured to receive and secure the spring element; and a cutting element attached to a distal end of the joining member and extending therefrom, the cutting element including a cutting edge defined at a distal end thereof; an actuator fixed to the spring element configured to selectively advance the cutting edge of the cutting element into the jaw members against the spring bias to sever tissue disposed therebetween; a housing supporting the at least one shaft thereto and extending therefrom; a boss disposed within the housing, wherein the spring element is fixed about the boss; and a guide pin disposed within the housing, the guide pin configured to support the spring element at least partially therearound to substantially reverse the actuation direction for advancing the cutting edge of the cutting element.