Compact jaw including split pivot pin
An end effector assembly for use with a forceps includes a pair of jaw members, a knife assembly, and one or more cam assemblies. One or more of the jaw members are moveable relative to the other about a pivot between open and closed positions. One or more of the jaw members include a knife channel. The pivot includes first and second sections defining a passage therebetween. The knife assembly includes a knife blade and an actuation shaft. The knife blade is disposed distally relative to the pivot. The actuation shaft is configured for slidable translation through the passage to allow selective advancement of the knife blade through the knife channel. The one or more cam assemblies are operably coupled to the one or more moveable jaw members and are actuatable to move the one or more jaw members between the open and closed positions for grasping tissue therebetween.
1. An end effector assembly, comprising:
a support clevis supporting a split pivot pin and defining first and second circumferentially enclosed cable lumens extending therethrough and a circumferentially enclosed tube lumen extending therethrough;
first and second jaw members moveable about the split pivot pin between an open position and a closed position relative to one another for grasping tissue;
a cam slidably disposed within the support clevis distally of the circumferentially enclosed tube lumen, the cam defining an outer dimension larger than an inner dimension of the circumferentially enclosed tube lumen to inhibit proximal passage of the cam therethrough;
first and second cam pins extending from the cam, the first and second cam pins coupled to the first and second jaw members, respectively, within the support clevis, the cam slidable within and relative to the support clevis to move the first and second cam pins within and relative to the support clevis and the first and second jaw members to thereby move the first and second jaw members between the open and closed positions, the first cam pin directly operably engaged with a first cam slot defined within the first jaw member, the second cam pin directly operably engaged with a second cam slot defined within the second jaw member, wherein the first and second cam pins are fixed relative to the cam and one another and define a passage therebetween;
an actuator tube extending distally through the circumferentially enclosed tube lumen of the support clevis and operably coupled to the cam within the support clevis distally of the circumferentially enclosed tube lumen, wherein actuation of the actuator tube slides the cam within and relative to the support clevis; and
first and second electrical cables extending through the first and second circumferentially enclosed cable lumens, respectively, to electrically connect to the first and second jaw members, respectively.
2. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein actuation of the actuator tube includes translation of the actuator tube relative to the support clevis to slide the cam relative to the support clevis thereby moving the first and second cam pins relative to the support clevis and the first and second jaw members to pivot the first and second jaw members relative to one another about the split pivot pin.
3. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cam is an actuator clevis.
4. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , further including a knife assembly having a knife blade, the knife blade supported between the first and second jaw members and axially movable therethrough.
5. The end effector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the knife assembly further includes a knife tube extending proximally from the knife blade, the knife tube slidably movable through the split pivot pin.
6. The end effector assembly of claim 5 , wherein the knife tube is configured to translate through the split pivot pin to move the knife blade from a proximal-most position between the first and second jaw members to a distal position between the first and second jaw members.
7. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical cables are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source such that the first and second jaw members are configured to electrosurgically treat tissue.
8. The end effector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the split pivot pin defines a discontinuity between first and second portions thereof.
9. The end effector assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the discontinuity is a recess.
10. The end effector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the knife assembly further includes a knife tube extending proximally from the knife blade, the knife tube slidably movable through the passage.
11. The end effector assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first and second cam pins are configured to slide relative to opposite sides of the knife tube to pivot the first and second jaw members between the open and closed positions.