Patent ID: 7101373

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument, comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis; a first jaw member movable relative to a second jaw member, the first jaw member attached to the shaft and being relatively movable from a first open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second closed position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween; a handle attached to the housing which imparts movement of the first jaw member from the first and second positions; a rotating assembly attached to the housing which rotates the jaw members about the longitudinal axis; first and second electrical leads which connect the jaw members to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween; and at least one of the first and second electrical leads including a slack loop disposed in the rotating assembly which permits rotation of the jaw members about the longitudinal axis.