Electrically-insulative hinge for electrosurgical jaw assembly, bipolar forceps including same, and methods of jaw-assembly alignment using fastened electrically-insulative hinge

An end effector assembly for a forceps, the end effector assembly comprising:

• a first jaw member having a pair of proximal flanges defining a cavity therebetween, each proximal flange including a pivot pin opening defined therein;
• a second jaw member having a proximal pivot flange including a pivot pin opening defined therein, the pivot flange positioned within the cavity of the first jaw member;
• a pivot pin configured to pass through the pivot pin openings of the first and second jaw members to pivotably couple the first and second jaw members to one another about the pivot pin;
• and
• a hinge positioned between the first jaw member and the second jaw member configured to electrically isolate the first and second jaw members from one another, the hinge having a U-shaped body including first and second end portions disposed at opposite ends of the U-shaped body, the first and second end portions each defining a pivot hole that receives the pivot pin.

A forceps, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shaft extending from the housing and including a distal end;
• and
• an end effector assembly supported at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including:
• a first jaw member including a first pivot pin opening defined therein and having a first sealing surface;
• a second jaw member including a second pivot pin opening defined therein and having a second sealing surface opposing the first sealing surface;
• a pivot pin configured to pass through the first and second pivot pin openings to pivotably couple the first and second jaw members to one another about the pivot pin;
• and
• a hinge positioned between the first jaw member and the second jaw member configured to electrically isolate the first and second jaw members from one another, the hinge including a U-shaped body disposed in a plane parallel to at least one of the first and second sealing surfaces and including first and second end portions disposed at opposite ends of the U-shaped body, the first and second end portions each defining a pivot hole that receives the pivot pin.