Patent ID: 8439912

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing supporting at least one actuator thereon, the actuator adapted for manipulation by a user to control the instrument; an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing, the elongated shaft longitudinally movable with respect to the housing; an end effector supported by a distal portion of the elongated shaft, the end effector adapted for surgically treating tissue; at least one tensile member extending through the elongated shaft, the at least one tensile member including a proximal end operatively coupled to the at least one actuator and a distal end operatively coupled to the end effector such that manipulation of the at least one actuator induces movement of the at least one tensile member to move the end effector; a flange protruding radially from a proximal portion of the elongated shaft that extends into the housing; a spring within a cavity defined in the housing, the spring supported in the cavity such that the spring imparts a distally directed longitudinal force on the flange to bias the elongated shaft in a distal direction; and a spacer insertable into the cavity to maintain the flange and the elongated shaft in a proximal position, the spacer removable from the cavity to permit the flange and the elongated shaft to move in a distal direction under the influence of the spring, wherein movement of the elongated shaft in the distal direction moves the at least one tensile member from a first relaxed configuration to a second stressed configuration.