GAS-ENHANCED ENERGY-BASED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MINIMALLY-INVASIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES

A surgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft assembly extending from the housing, and an end effector extending from the elongated shaft assembly. An inner shaft of the assembly defines proximal and distal portions and a longitudinal lumen. The proximal portion inhibits passage of gas while the distal portion permits passage of gas. An intermediate collar is disposed about the inner shaft between the proximal and distal portions. An outer sleeve of the assembly is disposed about the inner shaft and the intermediate collar to define a proximal area therebetween proximally of the intermediate collar and a distal annular area therebetween distally of the intermediate collar. The outer sleeve includes a proximal portion surrounding the proximal annular area and a distal portion surrounding the distal annular area. The proximal portion permits passage of gas while the distal portion inhibits passage of gas.