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An electrosurgical forceps includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle is selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft. The jaw members are moveable from an open position to a cl

An electrosurgical forceps includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle is selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft. The jaw members are moveable from an open position to a closed position and are each adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source. A first linkage is disposed at least partially within the shaft and is operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage disposed proximal to the first linkage. Selective movement of the handle rotates the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions. In some embodiments, the jaw members are configured in a releasably locked configuration when in the closed position.

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1. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw m

1. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; anda 2-pin linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a 3-pin linkage disposed proximal to the 2-pin linkage, the 3-pin linkage being operably coupled at a first end to a distal end of a drive element, the drive element operably coupled at a proximal end to the handle such that selective movement of the handle causes movement of the drive element relative to the shaft to rotate the 3-pin linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the 2-pin linkage in an opposite second direction, wherein the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the 3-pin linkage is movable between a first position to move the jaw members to the open position, and a second position to move the jaw members to the closed position in a releasably locked configuration. 2. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the 3-pin linkage is configured to move within an aperture defined through the shaft upon selective movement of the handle, the aperture including a distal stop configured to limit rotational movement of the 3-pin bracket in a first direction and a proximal stop to limit rotational movement of the 3-pin linkage in a second direction. 3. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the first jaw member is collinear with the second end of the 3-pin linkage along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second positions of the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the 3-pin linkage correspond to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. 4. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 3, wherein the coupling between the 2-pin linkage and the 3-pin linkage is movable to a third position collinear with the longitudinal axis such that the 2-pin and 3-pin linkages are in a state of unequal equilibrium relative to each other. 5. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the 2-pin linkage is operably coupled to the 3-pin linkage via a first pivot pin and to the first jaw member via a second pivot pin. 6. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the 3-pin linkage rotates in a counter clock-wise direction to move the jaw members to the open position and in a clock-wise direction to move the jaw members to the closed position. 7. An electrosurgical forceps according to claim 1, wherein the 2-pin linkage is substantially linear and the 3-pin linkage is generally L-shaped. 8. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; anda first linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage by a coupling disposed proximal to the first linkage, wherein selective movement of the handle rotates the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions;wherein a second end of the second linkage is operably coupled to a distal end of a drive element, the drive element operably coupled at a proximal end to the handle such that selective movement of the handle causes movement of the drive element relative to the shaft to cause rotational movement of the second linkage, and wherein the second end of the second linkage is configured to move within an aperture defined through the shaft upon selective movement of the handle, the aperture including a distal stop configured to limit rotational movement of the second linkage in the first direction and a proximal stop to limit rotational movement of the second linkage in a second direction. 9. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; anda first linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage by a coupling disposed proximal to the first linkage, wherein selective movement of the handle rotates the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions;wherein the coupling between the first linkage and the second linkage is movable between a first position to move the jaw members to the open position, and a second position to move the jaw members to the closed position in a releasably locked configuration, wherein the coupling between the first linkage and the first jaw member is collinear with the second end of the second linkage along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second positions of the coupling between the first and second linkages correspond to opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. 10. An electrosurgical forceps, comprising: a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; anda first linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage by a coupling disposed proximal to the first linkage, wherein selective movement of the handle rotates the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions;wherein the first linkage is substantially linear and the second linkage is generally L-shaped. 11. A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure, the steps comprising: providing an electrosurgical energy source;providing an electrosurgical forceps, including:a handle having a shaft extending therefrom and selectively movable to actuate a pair of first and second opposable jaw members pivotably connected to each other at a distal end of the shaft, the jaw members moveable from an open position, wherein the jaw members are in spaced relation relative to one another, to a closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members adapted to connect to an the electrosurgical energy source to conduct energy through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal; anda first linkage disposed at least partially within the shaft and operably coupled between the first jaw member and a second linkage disposed proximal to the first linkage;selectively moving the handle to rotate the second linkage in a first direction, thereby rotating the first linkage in an opposite second direction to move the jaw members between the open and closed positions;actuating the jaw members to grasp tissue therebetween;rotating the first and second linkages into an over-the-center configuration to releasably lock the jaw members in the closed position; anddelivering electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical energy source to each of the jaw members to effect a tissue seal.