Jaw assembly for an endoscopic instrument

摘要

An end effector assembly (12,14) for an endoscopic instrument includes first and second end effectors (44a,44b), a screw (102) and optionally a washer (104). The end effectors have amrs (50a,50b) which are biased away from each other. The screw (102) has a threaded portion (108) dimensioned to engage the distal end (16a) of the endoscopic instrument and a head portion (106) with a pair of arm receiving grooves (114a,114b). In a presently preferred embodiment, the washer (104) extends over arms (50a,50b) of the end effectors (44a,44b) which pass through grooves (114a,114b) in the head (106) ofthe screw (102). In this manner, the arms (50a,50b) of the end effectors (44a,44b) are captured between the screw (102) and the washer (104). The grooves (114a,114b) are preferably provided with upstanding pins (417a,417b) which engage mounting holes (572a,572b) in the arms (50a,50b) of the end effectors (44a,44b).