Surgical instrument with stamped double-flange jaws and actuation mechanism

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a housing that supports an elongated shaft. A selectively movable drive rod extends through the elongated shaft and carries a cam pin in a longitudinal direction. An end effector for surgically treating tissue is supported by the elongated shaft and includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to one another about a pivot axis. The upper jaw member includes a first pair of laterally spaced flanges, and the lower jaw member includes a second pair of laterally spaced flanges defining a camming slot for engaging the cam pin. The flanges are arranged in an offset configuration where one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a first jaw member disposed at a distal end of a first shaft and a second jaw member disposed at a distal end of a second shaft;   a pivot disposed on one of the first or second jaw members, the jaw members movable about the pivot relative to one another;   a lead guide slot defined in the second jaw member and disposed in spaced relation to the pivot;   a raceway defined in the second jaw member proximal to the pivot, the raceway including a narrowed portion and a broadened portion; and   a first conductive lead adapted to connect to a first electrical potential and a second conductive lead adapted to connect to a second electrical potential, at least one of the first or second conductive leads routed through the narrowed portion of the raceway.   
     
     
         22 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the narrowed portion of the raceway is configured to maintain at least one of the first or second conductive leads in a relatively fixed position during movement of the jaw members. 
     
     
         23 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , further comprising a jaw aperture stop disposed on one of the first or second jaw members and configured to limit movement of the jaw members relative to one another. 
     
     
         24 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 23 , further comprising a groove defined in one of the first or second jaw members configured to receive the at least one jaw aperture stop therein. 
     
     
         25 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , further comprising a pivot plate configured to couple to the pivot to couple the first jaw member to the second jaw member. 
     
     
         26 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the pivot plate is disposed within a circumferential groove defined in one of the first or second jaw members, the circumferential groove configured to facilitate rotation of the pivot during movement of the jaw members. 
     
     
         27 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , further comprising a proximal shaft connector operably coupled to one of the first or second shafts and configured to connect at least one of the first or second jaw members to a source of electrosurgical energy. 
     
     
         28 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the lead guide slot is defined in the second jaw member distal to the pivot. 
     
     
         29 . The r electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the pivot is configured to be received within an aperture defined through the second jaw member. 
     
     
         30 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the first conductive lead is routed through the narrowed portion of the raceway to connect to the first jaw member, and the second conductive lead is routed through the narrowed portion of the raceway and the lead guide slot to connect to the second jaw member. 
     
     
         31 . An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 first and second jaw members movable relative to one another about a pivot between an open position and a closed position;   a knife channel defined along a distal portion of at least one of the first or second jaw members; and   a lead guide slot disposed on one of the first or second jaw members and configured to maintain a conductive lead electrically coupled to one of the first or second jaw members in a relatively fixed position during movement of the first and second jaw members.   
     
     
         32 . The end effector according to  claim 31 , further comprising a raceway defined in one of the first or second jaw members proximal to the pivot, the conductive lead routed through the raceway. 
     
     
         33 . The end effector according to  claim 32 , wherein the raceway includes a narrowed portion and a broadened portion, the conductive lead routed through the narrowed portion of the raceway and the lead guide slot to connect to one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         34 . The end effector according to  claim 31 , further comprising a longitudinal groove defined along a proximal portion of one of the first or second jaw members and disposed in alignment with the knife channel. 
     
     
         35 . An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 first and second jaw members movable relative to one another about a pivot between an open position and a closed position;   a knife channel defined along a distal portion of at least one of the first or second jaw members, the knife channel configured to receive a knife therethrough; and   a longitudinal groove defined along a proximal portion of one of the first or second jaw members and disposed in alignment with the knife channel.   
     
     
         36 . The end effector according to  claim 35 , further comprising a lead guide slot disposed on one of the first or second jaw members, the lead guide slot configured to maintain a conductive lead electrically coupled to one of the first or second jaw members in a relatively fixed position during movement of the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         37 . The end effector according to  claim 35 , wherein the longitudinal groove is configured to align the knife with the knife channel. 
     
     
         38 . The end effector according to  claim 35 , further comprising a raceway defined in one of the first or second jaw members proximal to the pivot, the raceway including a narrowed portion and a broadened portion. 
     
     
         39 . The end effector according to  claim 38 , wherein narrowed portion of the raceway is configured to route a conductive lead to one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         40 . The end effector according to  claim 35 , further comprising a jaw aperture stop disposed on one of the first or second jaw members and configured to limit movement of the first and second jaw members relative to one another.