Electrosurgical apparatus

An electrosurgical forceps instrument comprising:

• a flexible shaft defining a lumen;
• a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy disposed within the lumen of the flexible shaft;
• a rigid bracket mounted at a distal end of the flexible shaft;
• a pair of jaws pivotably mounted on the rigid bracket, the pair of jaws being movable relative to each other to open and close a gap between opposing inner surfaces thereof;
• and
• an actuating element disposed within the lumen of the flexible shaft and extending therefrom through the rigid bracket to operably engage the pair of jaws,
• wherein the pair of jaws comprises a first jaw having an energy delivery structure attached to an inner surface therefore, the energy delivery structure comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having a first electrode and an second electrode formed thereon,
• wherein the energy delivery structure is connected to receive the microwave energy from the coaxial cable,
• wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged to emit the microwave energy received by the energy delivery structure into the gap between the pair of jaws;
• and
• wherein the flexible dielectric substrate comprises a proximal portion that passes through the rigid bracket and extends between a distal end of the coaxial cable and a proximal end of the inner surface, wherein the proximal portion is deformable upon opening and closing of the pair of jaws.