Scissor style vessel sealer with squeeze activated transection

Abstract

A scissor-style vessel sealing having a knife engagement mechanism that will automatically drive a knife between the jaws when the handles are moved into the closed position. The vessel sealer has a first shaft with a first jaw and a second shaft having a second jaw pivotally coupled to the first shaft so that the jaws are moveable between open and closed positions. A knife actuating assembly is coupled to the first shaft to move between a first position, where the knife is in a retracted position, to a second position, where the knife is in an extended position, in response to contact by the second shaft when the scissor-style vessel sealer is closed. A knife lockout may be used to disengage the knife engagement mechanism from the knife to prevent movement of the knife when the scissor-style vessel sealer is closed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.