Electrosurgical instrument

Abstract

An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly includes a pair of first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another via a pivot pin. One or both of the first and second jaw members may be movable from an open position for positioning tissue therebetween to a clamping position for grasping tissue. A detent is operably disposed proximal the pivot pin and extends radially outward from a proximal flange of one of the jaw members. The detent is configured to releasably engage a corresponding slot disposed on a proximal flange of the other jaw member. The detent and slot are configured to control a gap distance between the first and second jaw members when the first and second jaw members are in the clamping position.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An electrosurgical forceps, comprising:
 a housing having a shaft extending therefrom and defining a longitudinal axis therethrough; and   an end effector assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and including a pair of first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another via a pivot pin, the first and second jaw members movable relative to one another from an open position for positioning tissue therebetween to a clamping position for grasping tissue,   wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes a respective cam slot configured to house a cam pin therein, the cam pin movable within the cam slots to move each of the first and second jaw members from the open position to clamping position, a proximal most position of each of the cam slots includes a back wall whereupon contact between the cam pin and the back wall of the respective cam slots corresponds to a desired gap distance between the first and second jaw members when the first and second jaw members are in the clamping position.   
     
     
         6 . An electrosurgical forceps according to  claim 5 , wherein the cam slots are angled with respect to one another. 
     
     
         7 . An electrosurgical forceps according to  claim 5 , wherein the proximal most position of each of the cam slots is aligned along a common axis. 
     
     
         8 . An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical forceps, comprising:
 a first jaw member and a second jaw member pivotably coupled to one another via a pivot pin, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable relative to the other from an open position for positioning tissue therebetween towards a clamping position for grasping tissue therebetween,   wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member include a first cam slot and a second cam slot, respectively, configured to cooperate to support a cam pin therein, the cam pin movable within the first cam slot and the second cam slot to move the at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member from the open position towards the clamping position, each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot defining a slot length between a proximal most portion and a distal most portion thereof, the slot length corresponding to a predetermined gap distance between the first jaw member and the second jaw member when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the clamping position,   wherein, when the cam pin is translated a distance equal to the slot length of the first cam slot and the second cam slot such that the cam pin abuts the proximal most portion of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot, the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed in the clamping position defining the predetermined gap distance therebetween.   
     
     
         9 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed in the clamping position, the first cam slot and the second cam slot define an angle therebetween, the angle corresponding to the predetermined gap distance between the first jaw member and the second jaw member. 
     
     
         10 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the first cam slot includes a first proximal wall at the proximal most portion thereof and the second cam slot includes a second proximal wall at the proximal most portion thereof, wherein contact between the cam pin and each of the first proximal wall and the second proximal wall maintains the predetermined gap distance between the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the clamping position thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The end effector assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the first proximal wall and the second proximal wall inhibit proximal translation of the cam pin beyond the proximal most portion of the first cam slot and the proximal most portion of the second cam slot.