Patent ID: 8721640
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising: a housing having a flexible shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough, the shaft including first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof, each jaw member including an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween; a drive assembly disposed in the housing including a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof and a second actuator operably coupled to the drive rod for rotation thereof; a knife operably coupled to a distal end of the drive rod; and a cam assembly coupled to the distal end of the drive rod configured to translate the knife relative to the jaw members, wherein actuation of the first actuator moves the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue and actuation of the second actuator rotates the drive rod about the axis A-A to translate the knife in an axial direction with respect to the axis A-A to cut tissue disposed between the jaw members.