Bipolar surgical instrument

A bipolar forceps, comprising:

• a mechanical forceps including first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof for effecting movement of the jaw members relative to one another about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, wherein a portion of the first shaft is bifurcated to define a longitudinal slot;
• a disposable housing having opposing halves releasably coupled to each other to at least partially encompass the first shaft such that the longitudinal slot defined by the bifurcated portion of the first shaft is disposed within the disposable housing;
• an electrode assembly associated with the disposable housing and having a first electrode releasably coupleable to the jaw member of the first shaft and a second electrode releasably coupleable to the jaw member of the second shaft, the first electrode and the second electrode adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy to allow selective conduction of the electrosurgical energy through the tissue held therebetween;
• at least one of the first or second electrodes including a knife channel defined along a length thereof, the knife channel configured to receive a knife blade therethrough to cut the tissue grasped between the jaw members;
• a longitudinal passageway defined between the first and second shafts;
• a knife guide at least partially disposed within a portion of a longitudinal passageway defined by the pivot, the knife guide configured to receive the knife blade therethrough;
• an actuation mechanism at least partially disposed within the disposable housing and configured to move through the longitudinal slot defined by the bifurcated portion of the first shaft to selectively advance the knife blade through the knife channel to cut the tissue;
• and
• a knife lockout mechanism configured to move from a first position wherein the knife lockout mechanism engages the actuation mechanism to prohibit advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel when the jaw members are in the first position to a second position wherein the knife lockout mechanism disengages the actuation mechanism when the jaw members are in the second position to permit advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel.

A bipolar forceps, comprising:

• a mechanical forceps including first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof for effecting movement of the jaw members relative to one another about a pivot from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, wherein a portion of the first shaft is bifurcated to define a longitudinal slot;
• a disposable housing releasably coupled to the first shaft such that the longitudinal slot defined by the bifurcated portion of the first shaft is disposed within the disposable housing;
• an electrode assembly configured to releasably couple to the jaw members and adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy to allow selective conduction of the electrosurgical energy through the tissue held between the jaw members;
• at least one of the jaw members including a knife channel defined along a length thereof, the knife channel configured to receive a knife blade therethrough to cut the tissue grasped between the jaw members;
• a longitudinal passageway defined between the first and second shafts;
• a knife guide supported in the disposable housing and at least partially disposed within a portion of a longitudinal passageway defined by the pivot, the knife guide having a longitudinal slot defined therethrough that receives the knife blade therein to align the knife blade with the knife channel;
• an actuation mechanism at least partially disposed within the disposable housing and configured to move through the longitudinal slot defined by the bifurcated portion of the first shaft to selectively advance the knife blade through the knife channel to cut the tissue;
• at least one handle member extending from the disposable housing, the at least one handle member operably coupled to the actuation mechanism and configured to effect advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel;
• and
• a knife lockout mechanism configured to be engaged by at least one of the first or second shafts and move the knife lockout mechanism from a first position wherein the knife lockout mechanism engages the actuation mechanism to prohibit advancement of the knife blade into the knife channel when the jaw members are in the first position to a second position wherein the knife lockout mechanism disengages the actuation mechanism when the jaw members are in the second position to permit selective advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel.