US Patent 8968305 Surgical forceps with external cutter

A forceps includes an end effector assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one jaw member is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a jaw housing and an opposed electrically conductive sealing surface. The opposed sealing surfaces define a sealing area therebetween. A cutting mechanism is disposed on the jaw housing of one of the jaw members opposite the respective sealing surface and is configured to cut tissue externally-positioned relative to the sealing area upon translation of the cutting mechanism with respect to tissue.