Vessel sealer and divider for large tissue structures

1. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft coupled to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal, the shaft including a drive sleeve slidingly disposed therein;

a drive assembly operable to move the jaw members 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 are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue;

a movable handle rotatable about a pivot pin to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot pin located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis;

a knife assembly having a movable knife bar that includes a generally t-shaped proximal end dimensioned to engage a corresponding slot defined within the housing, the slot guiding the movement of the knife bar during translation thereof, wherein the drive sleeve of the shaft couples to the drive assembly for moving the jaw members and the knife assembly includes a cuff at the distal end of the knife bar, the cuff being dimensioned to encapsulate and move atop the drive sleeve upon movement of the knife bar; and

a finger actuator associated with the knife assembly that includes two generally u-shaped flanges that rotate about a second pivot to abut and force the cuff distally which, in turn, results in distal translation of the knife bar.

2. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 , wherein the knife bar is coupled to a knife slidingly disposed within the shaft and wherein movement of the finger actuator moves the knife bar which, in turn, moves the knife to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.

3. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring that biases the knife assembly in a proximal-most orientation.

4. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring that is biased against the cuff to force the knife assembly in a proximal-most orientation.

5. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotating assembly operable to rotate the jaw members about the longitudinal axis defined through the shaft.

6. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 , further comprising a hand switch disposed within the housing and adapted to connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, the hand switch operable to allow a user to selectively supply bipolar energy to the jaw members to effect a tissue seal.

7. A bipolar forceps according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the jaw members includes a series of stop members disposed thereon configured to regulate the distance between the jaw members during sealing.

8. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft coupled to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;

a drive assembly operable to move the jaw members relative to one another about a pivot 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 are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue;

a movable handle rotatable about a pivot pin to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot pin located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis;

a trigger assembly coupled to the housing and coupled to a knife assembly having a drive rod that, upon actuation of the trigger assembly, selectively translates a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members; and

a knife guide dimensioned to facilitate alignment and translation of the knife through and into a knife channel defined between the jaw members, wherein the pivot includes an aperture defined therein that allows the knife to extend therethrough.

9. A bipolar forceps according to claim 8 , wherein the knife guide includes two engageable halves that insulate the jaw members from one another.

10. A bipolar forceps according to claim 8 , wherein the knife guide includes at least one aperture defined therein that allows the pivot to extend therethrough.

11. A bipolar forceps according to claim 8 , wherein the drive assembly includes a cam pin at a distal end thereof that engages the jaw members and wherein the knife guide includes at least one slot defined therein that allows the cam pin to extend therethrough.

12. A bipolar forceps according to claim 8 , wherein the pivot includes a stem and a cap that matingly engage on opposite sides of the shaft to secure the jaw members during assembly.

13. A bipolar forceps, comprising:

a housing;

a shaft coupled to the housing having jaw members at a distal end thereof, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough, the jaw members adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal;

a drive assembly operable to move the jaw members relative to one another about a pivot 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 are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue;

a movable handle rotatable about a pivot pin to force a drive flange of the drive assembly to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the pivot pin being located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis and the drive flange located generally along the longitudinal axis;

a trigger assembly coupled with the housing and coupled to a knife assembly having a drive rod that, upon actuation of the trigger assembly, selectively translates a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members, the knife assembly including a knife carriage having a t-shaped distal end that engages the trigger assembly and a proximal end that engages a knife bar slidingly mounted within the housing; and

a knife guide dimensioned to facilitate alignment and translation of the knife through and into a knife channel defined between the jaw members, wherein the pivot includes an aperture defined therein that allows the knife to extend therethrough.

14. A bipolar forceps according to claim 13 , wherein the knife bar includes a cuff at a distal end thereof that defines an aperture located therethrough, the shaft being rotatingly and slideably disposed through the aperture.

15. A bipolar forceps according to claim 13 , wherein the drive assembly includes an elongated drive sleeve that couples at a proximal end to the movable handle to move the jaw members between the first and second positions, the drive assembly further including a cam pin that couples the distal end of the drive sleeve to the jaw members for actuation thereof.

16. A bipolar forceps according to claim 15 , wherein the knife includes a slot defined therein that allows the cam pin to extend therethrough.