Vessel sealer and divider

An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:

• an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another 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, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface made from a material designed to reduce tissue adherence;
• a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
• a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
• a bifurcated knife bar including a blade attached at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue;
• and
• a handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces.

An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue, comprising:

• an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof, the jaw members being movable relative to one another 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, each jaw member including an electrically conductive sealing surface made from a material designed to reduce tissue adherence;
• each jaw member adapted to electrically couple to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal;
• a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being attached to a selectively translatable drive rod to sever tissue proximate the seal;
• a bifurcated knife bar including a blade attached at a distal end thereof and attached to a knife guide at a proximal end thereof, said bifurcated knife bar including two forks being configured to ride about opposites sides of said pivot during translation of the bifurcated knife bar through tissue;
• and
• at least one non-conductive stop member operatively associated with the electrically conductive surface of at least one of the jaw members, the at least one non-conductive stop member being dimensioned to control the distance between the jaw members when tissue is held therebetween, wherein the at least one non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.