Surgical forceps for sealing and dividing tissue

An end effector assembly for a surgical instrument, comprising:

• first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position, the first jaw member including:
• a jaw body;
• a blade engaged to the jaw body;
• and
• a pair of plate sections operably coupled to the jaw body and positioned to define an interior area between the plate sections and the jaw body, the plate sections spaced-apart from one another to define a first channel therebetween in communication with the interior area,
• wherein, with the first and second jaw members disposed in the first approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in an extended position relative to the jaw body such that the blade is retained within the interior area, and wherein, with the first and second jaw members disposed in the second approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in a retracted position relative to the jaw body such that the blade extends from the interior area and through the first channel to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members.

A forceps, comprising:

• an end effector assembly including:
• first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position, the first jaw member including:
• a jaw body;
• a blade engaged to the jaw body;
• and
• a pair of plate sections operably coupled to the jaw body and positioned to define an interior area between the plate sections and the jaw body, the plate sections spaced-apart from one another to define a first channel therebetween in communication with the interior area;
• and
• a handle assembly including a fixed handle and a movable handle operably coupled to the end effector assembly, the movable handle movable relative to the fixed handle between a first position, a second position, and a third position for moving the first and second jaw members between the spaced-apart position, the first approximated position, and the second approximated position, wherein, with the movable handle disposed in the second position and the first and second jaw members disposed in the first approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in an extended position relative to the jaw body such that the blade is retained within the interior area, and wherein, with the movable handle disposed in the third position and the first and second jaw members disposed in the second approximated position with tissue grasped therebetween, the plate sections are disposed in a retracted position relative to the jaw body such that the blade extends from the interior area and through the first channel to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members.