Abstract: An endoscopic instrument is provided and includes a housing including an elongated shaft assembly extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft assembly includes inner and outer shaft members. The inner and outer shaft members are removably coupled to the housing and the outer shaft member is movable with respect to the inner shaft member. An end effector is operably supported at the distal end of the outer shaft member and includes a pair of jaw members configured for treating tissue. A bushing operably couples to the inner and outer shaft members of the shaft assembly and selectively and releasably couples to the housing. The bushing includes one or more mechanical interfaces configured to engage one or more slots defined through the inner shaft member and one or more slots defined through the outer shaft member to release the inner and outer shaft members from the housing.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument is provided and includes a housing including an elongated shaft assembly extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft assembly includes inner and outer shaft members. The inner and outer shaft members are removably coupled to the housing and the outer shaft member is movable with respect to the inner shaft member. An end effector is operably supported at the distal end of the outer shaft member and includes a pair of jaw members configured for treating tissue. A bushing operably couples to the inner and outer shaft members of the shaft assembly and selectively and releasably couples to the housing. The bushing includes one or more mechanical interfaces configured to engage one or more slots defined through the inner shaft member and one or more slots defined through the outer shaft member to release the inner and outer shaft members from the housing.

Abstract: A reference electrode is disclosed, comprised of a ceramic housing comprised of a bottom and a sidewall means extending from the bottom to a cylindrical housing top to define an inner channel. The channel contains a silver electrode extending therefrom and a deposit of a silver salt. The housing having a bore substantially radial to the axis of the housing extending through oppositely facing sidewall means, and a ceramic rod configured to fit in the bore and form a friction bond is positioned in the bore to form an annular junction that permits transfer of ions across the junction. Means for electrically isolating the silver electrode are mounted on the housing top.

Abstract: The reference electrode, which is physically removed from the sensing electrode, is functionally connected by means of a Ringer's solution formulation serving as an electrolyte bridge between the reference electrode and the fluid or tissue of the patient under test.