Vessel sealer and divider

摘要

An endoscopic bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue which includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another about a pivot from a first spaced position to a second closed position to grasp tissue. Each jaw member is adapted to couple to a generator for conducting energy to effect a seal. The forceps also includes a handle assembly and a longitudinally reciprocating knife assembly which is translatable to sever tissue. The knife assembly includes a bifurcated knife bar having two forks which ride about the pivot during translation of the knife. One or more non-conductive stop members are operatively associated with the jaw members to regulate the distance between the jaw members when closed.