Apparatus for performing an electrosurgical procedure

1. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough;

an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and including a first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable relative to the other between an open position, wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, and a clamping position, wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;

a driving structure slidably disposed within the shaft; and

a link assembly including first and second links each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends of the first and second links pivotably coupled to each other and the driving structure at a first pivot point, the distal ends of the first and second links pivotably coupled to the respective first and second jaw members at respective second and third pivot points, the second and third pivot points defining a center line extending therebetween,

wherein, sliding the driving structure distally through the shaft from a first position to a second position urges the first and second jaw members from the open position to the clamping position and urges the proximal ends of the first and second links from an unlatched position, wherein the first pivot point is disposed on a first side of the center line, to a latched position, wherein the first pivot point is disposed in an over-center position on a second, opposite side of the center line to thereby latch the first and second jaw members in the clamping position.

2. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the driving structure is selected from the group consisting of: a rod, a cable, a wire, and a band.

3. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 , further comprising a movable handle pivotably coupled to the housing and operably associated with the driving structure such that pivoting the movable handle proximally relative to the housing slides the driving structure through the shaft from the first position to the second position.

4. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 , further comprising first and second stop members operably positioned relative to the first and second links, respectively, each of the first and second stop members defining an edge configured to contact the respective first and second links to facilitate retention of the first and second links in the latched position.

5. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second stop members are disposed on the respective first and second jaw members.

6. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members each include an electrically-conductive plate adapted to connect to a source of energy, the electrically-conductive plates configured to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween in the clamping position of the first and second jaw members.

7. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to one another via a pivot pin.

8. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 7 , wherein the pivot pin is slidably disposed within a slot defined within the shaft.

9. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 8 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the pivot pin distally relative to the shaft.

10. An endoscopic forceps, comprising:

a housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough;

an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and including a first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between an open position, wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, and a clamping position, wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween;

a driving structure slidably disposed within the shaft;

a link assembly including first and second links each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends of the first and second links pivotably coupled to each other and the driving structure at a first pivot point, the distal ends of the first and second links pivotably coupled to the respective first and second jaw members at respective second and third pivot points, the second and third pivot points defining a center line extending therebetween,

wherein sliding the driving structure through the shaft from a first position to a second position urges the first and second jaw members from the open position to the clamping position and urges the proximal ends of the first and second links from an unlatched position, wherein the first pivot point is disposed on a first side of the center line, to a latched position, wherein the first pivot point is disposed in an over-center position on a second, opposite side of the center line to thereby latch the first and second jaw members in the clamping position; and

first and second stop members operably positioned relative to the first and second links, respectively, each of the first and second stop members defining an edge configured to contact the respective first and second links to facilitate retention of the first and second links in the latched position.

11. The endoscopic forceps according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second stop members are disposed on the respective first and second jaw members.