Electrosurgical instrument & shaft

A shaft (14) is provided for a flexible endoscopic instrument, the shaft including at least one flexible section (20) along the length of the shaft, a distal 5 section (19) located distally of the flexible section, and a proximal section (18) located proximally of the flexible section (20). The distal section (19) includes a connection to a shaft electrode, while the proximal section (18) includes at least one connection for 10 connecting the shaft (14) to an electrosurgical generator (1). The shaft also includes a bypass lead (26) in electrical connection with both the distal section (19) and the proximal section (18). The bypass lead (26) ensures that the distal section (19) and the proximal 15 section (18) remain at the same potential even if the electrical pathway via the flexible section (20) becomes degraded by wear or damage thereto. (Figure 3) 4915539_1 (GHManers) P95617.AU 29/I/13 (O CO)