The application relates to an endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing a shaft coupled to the housing, the shaft having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft having a pair of jaw members, the jaw members including a longitudinally-oriented knife slot defined therethrough for reciprocation of a knife blade a drive assembly including a selectively advanceable drive sleeve, the drive assembly including a drive pin mounting the jaw members to the drive sleeve a movable handle rotatable about a pivot to force the drive assembly to move the jaw members between 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, the pivot located a fixed distance above the longitudinal axis a selectively advanceable knife assembly having a knife bar that moves the knife blade within the knife slot characterized in that the forceps comprises a knife lockout mechanism operatively connected to the drive sleeve, wherein movement of the drive sleeve moves the lockout mechanism from a first orientation in obstructive relationship with the knife bar to prevent movement of the knife blade to a second position that allows selective, unencumbered movement of the knife bar and knife blade to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.
