Vessel sealer and divider

1. 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 having a non-stick coating disposed thereon 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 handle assembly being dimensioned to maintain a closure pressure in the range of about 3 kg/cm 2 to about 16 kg/cm 2 between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces, said handle assembly including a handle, a cam-like piston, a connective link and a fixed handle which together form a four-bar mechanical linkage which mutually cooperate to impart a uniform closure pressure against the tissue grasped between the jaw members;

a longitudinally reciprocating knife disposed within the elongated shaft, the knife being selectively advanceable to sever tissue proximate the seal;

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;

and a trigger assembly which operatively connects to said knife, said trigger assembly being selectively movable to actuate said knife, wherein a distal end of said connective link of said four-bar mechanical linkage prevents actuation of said trigger assembly when said jaw members are disposed in said first open position.

2. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1 wherein the non-stick coating includes one of TiN, ZrN, TiAlN, CrN, chromium nitride, nickel/chrome alloys with a Ni/Cr ratio of approximately 5:1, MedCoat 2000, Inconel 600, tin-nickel, Ni200 and Ni201.

3. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1 wherein each jaw member includes an outer peripheral surface manufactured from a material which reduces tissue adherence, the outer peripheral surface being selected from a group of materials consisting of: nickel-chrome, chromium nitride, Ni200, Ni201, inconel 600 and tin-nickel.

4. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1 wherein the non-conductive stop member creates a gap between the electrically conductive sealing surfaces within the range of about 0.002 inches to about 0.003 inches.

5. An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue according to claim 1 wherein said connective link moves relative to said trigger assembly upon actuation of said handle assembly to allow selective actuation of said trigger assembly when said jaw members are disposed in said second grasped position.