Electrosurgical device

An end effector of a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a pair of curved first and second jaw members, one or more both of the curved jaw members including a curved slot so as to form a curved track therebetween;
• and
• a cutting mechanism comprising a cutting blade at its distal end, the cutting blade being arranged to translate longitudinally along the curved track between a first position and a second position, wherein the cutting blade has a gradually increasing lateral flexibility along its length to thereby allow the cutting blade to bend as it moves along the curved track, wherein the cutting blade comprises three discrete adjacent regions, comprising:
• a first proximal region being configured so as to provide a first lateral flexibility;
• a second intermediate region being configured so as to provide a second lateral flexibility, the second lateral flexibility being relatively greater than the first lateral flexibility;
• and
• a third distal region being configured so as to provide a third lateral flexibility, the third lateral flexibility being relatively greater than the second lateral flexibility, wherein:
• the first proximal region is arranged directly adjacent to the second intermediate region and the third distal region is arranged directly adjacent with the second intermediate region such that the first proximal region and the third distal region sandwich the second intermediate region;
• a thickness of the blade at the third distal region gradually decreases toward a distal side of the third distal region;
• the cutting blade comprises a plurality of cut-outs along an external edge of the cutting blade;
• and a spacing between the cut-outs gradually decreases from the first proximal region to the third distal region.