Apparatus for endoscopic procedures

1. A surgical device, comprising:

an end effector including a distal end and a proximal end; and

an imaging assembly coupled to the proximal end of the end effector, the imaging assembly including:

a housing including at least one opening;

a first support arm having a proximal end and a distal end;

a second support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second support arms pivotally coupled at their proximal ends within the housing and pivotable about a pivot axis; and

an imaging device coupled to distal ends of the first and second support arms and moveable between a first position, in which the imaging device is positioned within the housing, and a second position, in which the imaging device extends from the at least one opening of the housing and the end effector is within a field of view of the imaging device, wherein rotation of the first support arm in a first direction about the pivot axis and relative to the housing causes the second support arm to rotate about the pivot axis and relative to the first support arm in the first direction.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening includes first and second openings defined in respective radially-opposed sides of the housing.

3. The surgical device according to claim 2 , wherein the imaging device is moveable so as to extend from one of the first and second openings of the imaging assembly.

4. The surgical device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second support arms are coupled to the imaging device by first and second pins, respectively, and wherein the second pin is disposed proximally of the first pin.

5. The surgical device according to claim 4 , wherein the second support arm includes a longitudinal slot and the second pin is configured to travel through the longitudinal slot as the second support arm is pivoted.

6. The surgical device according to claim 1 , further comprising a gear assembly coupled to the first and second support arms, the gear assembly is configured to provide for faster rotation of the second support arm relative to the first support arm about the pivot axis.

7. The surgical device according to claim 6 , wherein the gear assembly includes a stationary gear coupled to the housing and a planetary gear mechanically engaged with the stationary gear and pivotally coupled to the first and second support arms.

8. The surgical device according to claim 1 , the imaging assembly further including:

a drive screw supported within the housing;

an actuation nut threadably coupled to the drive screw; and

a pivot arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the first support arm and a distal end pivotally coupled to the actuation nut, such that rotation of the drive screw imparts longitudinal movement of the actuation nut thereby causing actuation of the first support arm by the pivot arm.

9. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 1 , wherein rotation of the second support arm relative to the first support arm in the first direction causes the imaging device to rotate relative to the first support arm and the second support arm in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

10. A surgical instrument imaging assembly, comprising:

a housing defining at least one opening;

a first support arm having a proximal end and a distal end;

a second support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second support arms pivotally coupled at their proximal ends within the housing and pivotable about a pivot axis; and

an imaging device coupled to distal ends of the first and second support arms and moveable between a first position, in which the imaging device is positioned within the housing, and a second position, in which the imaging device extends from the at least one opening of the housing and the end effector is within a field of view of the imaging device, wherein rotation of the second support arm relative to the first support arm in a first direction causes the imaging device to rotate relative to the first support arm and the second support arm in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

11. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one opening includes first and second openings defined in respective sides of the housing.

12. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second support arms are coupled to the imaging device by first and second pins, respectively, and the second support arm includes a longitudinal slot through which the second pin is configured to travel as the second support arm is pivoted, the second pin being disposed proximally of the first pin.

13. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the second support arm includes a longitudinal slot through which the second pin is configured to travel as the second support arm is pivoted and the second pin being disposed proximally of the first pin.

14. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising a gear assembly coupled to the first and second support arms, the gear assembly is configured to provide for faster rotation of the second support arm relative to the first support arm about the pivot axis.

15. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the gear assembly includes a stationary gear coupled to the housing and a planetary gear mechanically engaged with the stationary gear and pivotally coupled to the first and second support arms.

16. The surgical instrument imaging assembly according to claim 10 , the imaging assembly further comprising:

a drive screw supported within the housing;

an actuation nut threadably coupled to the drive screw; and

a pivot arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the first support arm and a distal end pivotally coupled to the actuation nut, such that rotation of the drive screw imparts longitudinal movement of the actuation nut thereby causing actuation of the first support arm by the pivot arm.

17. A surgical device, comprising:

an end effector including a distal end and a proximal end; and

an imaging assembly coupled to the proximal end of the end effector, the imaging assembly including:

a housing including at least one opening;

a first support arm having a proximal end and a distal end;

a second support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second support arms pivotally coupled at their proximal ends within the housing and pivotable about a pivot axis;

a gear assembly coupled to the first and second support arms, the gear assembly is configured to provide for faster rotation of the second support arm relative to the first support arm about the pivot axis; and

an imaging device coupled to distal ends of the first and second support arms and moveable between a first position, in which the imaging device is positioned within the housing, and a second position, in which the imaging device extends from the at least one opening of the housing and the end effector is within a field of view of the imaging device, wherein rotation of the first support arm in a first direction about the pivot axis and relative to the housing causes the second support arm to rotate about the pivot axis and relative to the first support arm in the first direction.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 17 , wherein the gear assembly includes a stationary gear coupled to the housing and a planetary gear mechanically engaged with the stationary gear and pivotally coupled to the first and second support arms.

19. The surgical instrument according to claim 17 , the imaging assembly further comprising:

a drive screw supported within the housing;

an actuation nut threadably coupled to the drive screw; and

a pivot arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the first support arm and a distal end pivotally coupled to the actuation nut, such that rotation of the drive screw imparts longitudinal movement of the actuation nut thereby causing actuation of the first support arm by the pivot arm.