Patent ID: 8900232

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a bifurcated distal end defining a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion; an end effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly having first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, each of the jaw members defining an opposed jaw surface, each of the jaw members independently coupled to one of the first and second shaft portions; wherein, the first and second shaft portions are configured to flex relative to one another during movement of the jaw members to the closed position to grasp tissue therebetween such that the opposed jaw surfaces of the jaw members are disposed in substantially parallel orientation relative to one another when grasping tissue therebetween; and a cowling retained within a notch defined within at least one of the shaft or the jaw members, the cowling configured to limit flexing of the first and second shaft portions relative to one another.