Vessel sealer and divider

An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

• a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the housing including a fixed handle and the shaft including a longitudinal axis defined therethrough;
• a first jaw member movable relative to a second jaw member, the first jaw member attached to the shaft and relatively movable from a first open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• a drive assembly disposed within the housing and configured to impart movement of the first jaw member between the first and second positions upon actuation thereof;
• and
• a handle assembly having a moveable handle defining a pistol-grip configuration with the fixed handle of the housing, the moveable handle operably coupled to the housing and configured to actuate the drive assembly, wherein a combination of mechanical linkages including each of the fixed handle, the housing, and first and second links is configured such that actuation of the movable handle relative to the fixed handle results in relative pivoting between each of the mechanical linkages and at least another one of the mechanical linkages to longitudinally translate the drive assembly to thereby move the first jaw member between the first and second positions, and
• wherein the drive assembly is substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis and each of the mechanical linkages is substantially disposed on the same side of the longitudinal axis.