An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing and a shaft affixed to
the housing. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough
and a pair of jaw members attached to a distal end thereof. The forceps
also includes a drive assembly for moving one of the jaw members relative
to the other jaw member from a first position wherein the movable jaw
members are disposed in spaced relation relative to each other to a
second position wherein the jaw members are closer one another for
manipulating tissue. A movable handle is included which is rotatable
about a pivot to force a drive flange of the movable handle into
mechanical cooperation with the drive assembly to move the jaw members
from the open and closed positions. The pivot is located a fixed distance
from the longitudinal axis and the drive flange is located generally
along the longitudinal axis. The forceps is connected to a source of
electrosurgical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw
members are capable of conducting bipolar energy through tissue held
therebetween to effect a tissue seal.