Electrosurgical device

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle,
• a pair of curved first and second jaw members, one or both of the jaw members including a curved slot so as to form a curved track therebetween,
• a blade assembly located for longitudinal movement into a deployed position within the curved track, the blade assembly including a cutting blade at its distal end,
• a trigger mechanism located on the handle and movable between a first position and a second position, movement of the trigger mechanism from its first position to its second position causing the longitudinal movement of the blade assembly into its deployed position,
• wherein:
• the blade assembly includes three discrete regions located adjacent to one another, the three discrete regions including:
• a distal first region including a first longitudinally extending slot that includes parallel opposing sides, the first longitudinally extending slot having a first width, the first width being a first distance between the parallel opposing sides;
• an intermediate second region having a lateral flexibility less than that of the distal first region, the intermediate second region including a second longitudinally extending slot that is aligned with the first longitudinally extending slot along a longitudinal axis, the second longitudinally extending slot including parallel opposing sides and having a second width, the second width being a second distance between the parallel opposing sides, the second distance being shorter than the first distance;
• the first longitudinally extending slot being continuous with the second longitudinally extending slot;
• and
• a proximal third region having a lateral flexibility less than that of the intermediate second region;
• wherein the first region is located distally of the intermediate second region such that it is located within the curved track formed by the jaw members when the blade assembly is in its deployed position.