Surgical instrument with reinforced articulation section

An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• (b) an end effector;
• and
• (c) an articulation section, wherein the articulation section is disposed between the shaft and the end effector, wherein the articulation section comprises:
• (i) a flexing section, and
• (ii) a pivoting section, wherein the pivoting portion comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is pivotable relative to the proximal portion about a pivot axis,
• wherein the flexing section is longitudinally offset from the pivoting section.

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• (b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
• (i) a first jaw, wherein the first jaw has a first electrode,
• (ii) a second jaw, wherein the second jaw has a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are operable to apply RF energy to tissue, and
• (iii) a firing beam, wherein the firing beam is operable to sever tissue compressed between the first and second jaws;
• and
• (c) an articulation section, wherein the firing beam extends through the articulation section, wherein the articulation section is disposed between the shaft and the end effector, wherein the articulation section comprises:
• (i) a proximal portion secured to the shaft,
• (ii) a distal portion secured to the end effector, wherein the distal portion is operable to deflect away from a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft to thereby articulate the end effector, and
• (iii) a pair of reinforcement members laterally positioned adjacent to the firing beam, wherein the reinforcement members are configured to provide lateral support to the firing beam when the articulation section is in an articulated configuration.