Electrosurgical device

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle,
• an elongate shaft extending from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis for the instrument,
• a blade assembly located within the elongate shaft and having a proximal end,
• a trigger mechanism located on the handle and movable between a first position and a second position, the trigger mechanism having a component connected to the proximal end of the blade assembly, the arrangement of the trigger mechanism and the component being such that movement of the trigger mechanism from its first position to its second position causes longitudinal movement of the blade assembly,
• wherein the component comprises an internal cavity of a first shape profile and the proximal end of the blade assembly is of a second shape profile, the first shape profile and second shape profile being selected so as to permit the proximal end of the blade assembly to be inserted into the internal cavity at an angle to the longitudinal axis, and to secure the proximal end of the blade assembly within the internal cavity when the blade assembly is subsequently rotated towards the longitudinal axis.

A method of assembling a surgical instrument having a handle, an elongate shaft extending from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis for the instrument, a blade assembly located within the elongate shaft, and a trigger mechanism located on the handle and movable between a first position and a second position, the trigger mechanism having a component connected to a proximal end of the blade assembly to receive and retain the proximal end, the method comprising:

• presenting the proximal end of the blade assembly to the component at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the instrument;
• receiving the proximal end of the blade assembly within an internal cavity of the component at the presented angle;
• and
• rotating the blade assembly towards the longitudinal axis to secure the proximal end of the blade assembly within the internal cavity;
• wherein the proximal end of the blade assembly and the internal cavity of the component are of respective co-operating shapes so as to permit the receiving of the proximal end within the internal cavity at the presented angle and to then secure the proximal end within the cavity after the rotation of the blade assembly.