Electrosurgical forceps with translating blade driver

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a body, wherein the body comprises:

(i) a distal end,

(ii) a proximal end,

(iii) a first pin, and

(iv) a second pin,

wherein the body defines an elongate opening, wherein the proximal end of the body defines a first scissor grip;

(b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw about a first axis, wherein the second jaw is fixed relative to the body;

(c) a lever pivotably coupled to the body about the first axis, wherein the lever comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the first jaw is coupled to the distal end of the lever, wherein the lever is configured to drive the first jaw toward and away from the second jaw, wherein the proximal end of the lever defines a second scissor grip; and

(d) a tissue severing assembly, wherein the tissue severing assembly comprises:

(i) a gear, wherein the gear is rotatable about a first second axis,

(ii) a longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is slidably disposed within the elongate opening,

(iii) an elongate member extending distally from the longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the elongate member is fixed to the longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the elongate member defines a first longitudinal slot, wherein the second pin is slidably disposed within the first longitudinal slot, wherein the elongate member is engaged with the gear, and

(iv) a firing beam engaged with the gear, wherein the firing beam defines a second longitudinal slot, wherein the first pin is slidably disposed within the second longitudinal slot, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is operable to drive the firing beam.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gear comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is located opposite the second side, wherein a portion of the elongate member is positioned on the first side of the gear, wherein a portion of the firing beam is positioned on the second side of the gear.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the firing beam comprises a distal end, and wherein the firing beam further comprises a blade positioned at the distal end of the firing beam, wherein the blade is configured to sever tissue captured between the first and the second jaws.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises at least one electrode operable to apply radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger further comprises a button, and wherein the button is operable to selectively activate the at least one electrode to thereby apply the radiofrequency (RF) energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is configured to be immovable unless the button is depressed.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the button is configured to be unable to be depressed unless the end effector is in a closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the button and the longitudinally sliding trigger are configured to move in a same direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is configured to be immovable unless the end effector is in a closed position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is positioned distal to the first and the second scissor grips.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate opening encompasses the longitudinally sliding trigger.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is annular, wherein the elongate opening comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end and the distal end each define a shape complementing the longitudinally sliding trigger.

13. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a body, wherein the body comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the body defines an elongate opening, wherein the proximal end of the body defines a first scissor grip;

(b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw, wherein the end effector comprises at least one electrode operable to apply radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue;

(c) a lever pivotably coupled to the body, wherein the lever comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the first jaw is coupled to the distal end of the lever, wherein the lever is configured to drive the first jaw toward and away from the second jaw, wherein the proximal end of the lever defines a second scissor grip; and

(d) a tissue severing assembly, wherein the tissue severing assembly comprises:

(i) a pinion gear,

(ii) a longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is slidably disposed within the elongate opening,

(iii) a button configured to activate the end effector to apply radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue when moved from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position and the second position are located along a longitudinal axis defined by the body, wherein the button is disposed within the longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the button moves from the first position to the second position along the same direction as the longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the radiofrequency (RF) energy is activated only when the button and the longitudinally sliding trigger simultaneously slide from the first position to the second position,

(iv) an elongate member further comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a first rack configured to mesh with the pinion gear, wherein the distal end of the elongate member is fixed to the longitudinally sliding trigger, and

(v) a longitudinally sliding firing beam comprising a second rack, wherein the second rack is configured to mesh with the pinion gear,

wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is longitudinally movable in a proximal direction to cause distal longitudinal movement of the longitudinally sliding firing beam.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is longitudinally movable in a distal direction to cause proximal longitudinal movement of the firing beam.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first jaw and the lever both pivot about a same axis.

16. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a body, wherein the body comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the body defines an elongate opening, wherein the proximal end of the body defines a first scissor grip;

(b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw, wherein the end effector further comprises at least one electrode operable to provide radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue;

(c) a lever pivotably coupled to the body, wherein the lever comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the first jaw is coupled to the distal end of the lever, wherein the lever is configured to drive the first jaw toward and away from the second jaw, wherein the proximal end of the lever defines a second scissor grip;

(d) a tissue severing assembly, wherein the tissue severing assembly comprises:

(i) a longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is slidably disposed within the elongate opening of the body, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger defines an opening, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is movable along a first plane of motion,

(ii) a button, wherein the button is disposed within the opening of the longitudinally sliding trigger, wherein the button is movable relative to the longitudinally sliding trigger along the first plane in order to selectively activate the at least one electrode with the radiofrequency (RF) energy, and

(iii) a longitudinally sliding firing beam, wherein the longitudinally sliding trigger is operable to advance the longitudinally sliding firing beam distally in response to a proximal movement of the longitudinally sliding trigger;

(e) a lockout feature configured to prevent the proximal movement of the longitudinally sliding trigger until the button is depressed.