Patent ID: 8906018

Claim:
A forceps, comprising: an end effector assembly including: first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another, at least one of the jaw members moveable with respect to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween; a knife channel defined within each of the jaw members and extending longitudinally therealong, each knife channel including a body portion and a base portion configured such that the knife channel defines a “T”-shaped configuration, wherein the body portion has a first width that is less than a second width of the base portion; and a knife assembly, the knife assembly including a knife having a bifurcated distal end and configured for translation through the body portions of the knife channels, the bifurcated distal end of the knife including first and second cutting members, each cutting member defining a cutting surface and having a tab extending transversely from a free end thereof, each tab complementarily-dimensioned to be retained within the base portion of one of the knife channels and configured for translation therethrough, wherein the knife is translatable into the knife channels of the jaw members when the jaw members are in the open or closed positions, the first and second cutting members of the knife in an approximated position with respect to one another when translated through the knife channels of the jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position, the first and second cutting members flexed apart from one another in a spaced relation when translated through the knife channels of the jaw members when the jaw members are in the open position.