Patent ID: 7144395

Claim:
Bipolar tubular shaft instrument ( 1 ) comprising a housing portion ( 2 ) and two instrument legs ( 3 , 4 ), one of which is stationary and the other pivotable about an axis ( 5 ) relative to the stationary first leg ( 3 ), or in which both instrument legs ( 3 , 4 ) are pivotable relative to one other, with a pull-and/or push rod ( 6 ) which engages the at least one pivotable instrument leg and by an axial movement effects the pivoting, a tube ( 7 ), releasably attached to the housing portion ( 2 ), receiving and mounting the push rod ( 6 ), and within which the push rod ( 6 ) is received and is movable in an axial direction, and a first handle ( 8 ) attached to the housing portion ( 2 ) and a second handle ( 10 ), pivotable relative to the first handle ( 8 ) that acts on the push rod ( 6 ) through a connecting joint ( 9 ), first and second high frequency current terminals ( 11 , 12 ), the first current terminal ( 11 ) being connected to the push rod and the second current terminal ( 12 ) being connected to the tube ( 7 ), and an insulation ( 13 ) provided between the push rod and the tube; for electrically connecting the push rod ( 6 ) with the first current terminal ( 11 ), two contact portions are provided, oriented relative to each other in a direction of longitudinal extension of the push rod ( 6 ), the one contact portion comprising a contact bushing ( 14 ) and the other contact portion comprising a plug pin ( 15 ) which can be plugged into the contact bushing and is displaceable therein, the one contact portion is connected to the push rod ( 6 ) and oriented behind the connecting joint ( 9 ) in a direction of movement of the push rod ( 6 ), and the second current terminal ( 12 ) is fixedly connected to a portion of the instrument ( 1 ) which in a use position is electrically conductively, directly or indirectly, connected to, or in electrical conductive contact with, the tube ( 7 ), wherein a greatest insertion depth of the plug pin ( 15 ) in the contact bushing ( 14 ) corresponds to at least approximately a displacement path of the push rod ( 6 ) upon pivoting of the at least one instrument leg.