US Patent 7799039 Surgical instrument having a hydraulically actuated end effector

A hydraulically actuated surgical instrument. The instrument may comprise a handle portion and a shaft. The shaft is mechanically coupled to the handle. The instrument may also include an end effector mechanically coupled to the shaft along its longitudinal axis. The end effector may comprise a surgical implement and a hydraulic device. At least a portion of the surgical implement may be translatable along a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Also, the hydraulic device may be positioned to be expandable toward the surgical instrument in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the shaft.