Apparatus for Performing an Electrosurgical Procedure

An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

• a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom defining a longitudinal axis therethrough;
• an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and having a pair of first and second jaw members, the first and second jaw members movable relative to one another from an open position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• and
• a drive assembly operably coupled to a handle assembly associated with the housing, the drive assembly including two wires each including a proximal end that operably couples to the handle assembly and a distal end that operably couples to respective ones of the first and second jaw members, the two wires configured to impart movement of respective ones of the first and second jaw members when the handle assembly is actuated,
• a center link operably coupled to the first and second jaw members via a respective cam member that is operably disposed within a respective cam slot associated with a respective jaw member.

An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

• a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom defining a longitudinal axis therethrough;
• an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft includes a pair of first and second jaw members, the first and second jaw members movable relative to one another from an open position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping position wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• and
• a drive mechanism operably coupled to a handle assembly associated with the housing and operably coupled to a biasing component operably associated with the first and second jaw members,
• wherein the biasing component is movable in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and configured to impart movement of the first and second jaw members when the handle assembly is actuated.

An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

• a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough;
• an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and having a pair of first and second jaw members, the first and second jaw members operably disposed in an open position wherein the first and second jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, each of the first and second jaw members including a respective seal plate that is movable from an initial position for positioning tissue therebetween to a subsequent position wherein the seal plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;
• and
• a drive mechanism operably coupled to a handle assembly associated with the housing and operably coupled to biasing components operably associated with respective seal plates, the biasing components configured to impart movement of the seal plates when the handle assembly is actuated,
• wherein the biasing components are in the form of respective bellows that are heat activated.