Patent ID: 8870867

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument, comprising: an elongated shaft having an end effector associated with a distal end thereof and a handle associated with a proximal end thereof, the end effector enabled to deliver radiofrequency energy to a target site; an articulable joint positioned between the shaft and the end effector, the joint configured to articulate the end effector angularly within an arc of articulation, the articulable joint comprising at least one pivotable link positioned between a distal end of the shaft and a proximal end of the end effector; a stabilizable articulation actuator disposed proximal to the articulable joint and adapted to control the angle of articulation of the articulable joint; and at least two force transfer member portions operably connected at their proximal end to the articulation actuator, and operably connected at their distal end through the articulable joint to a proximal portion of the end effector, thereby allowing rotational movement of the articulation actuator to be translated into articulating movement of the end effector, wherein the stabilizable articulation actuator is configured to stabilize the articulable joint at a stable angle by stabilizing the force transfer member portions, the stable angle of the articulable joint being any one of a set of angles spaced apart at intervals within the arc of joint articulation, wherein the stabilizable articulation actuator comprises: a rotationally stabilizable disk; and a lever configured to rotate the rotationally stabilizable disk, the lever comprising two opposing arms, each arm of the lever connected to one of the at least two force transfer member portions, the lever configured such that its rotation moves a first transfer member portion in a proximal direction and a second member portion in a distal direction, wherein the stabilizable articulation actuator further comprises a force member tensioning mechanism associated with the rotatable lever, the force member tensioning mechanism configured to apply tension to the at least two force transfer members, and wherein the force member tensioning mechanism comprises a spring plate comprising two opposing arms, at least one of the at least two force transfer member portions being threaded through each arm of the rotatable lever, through the spring plate, and terminating proximal to the spring plate.