Surgical forceps

An end effector assembly for a surgical device, the end effector assembly comprising:

• a first jaw member including a first proximal flange portion and a first distal jaw portion, the first proximal flange portion defining a first aperture extending therethrough;
• a second jaw member including a second proximal flange portion and a second distal jaw portion, the second proximal flange portion defining a second aperture and having a shoulder disposed about the second aperture, the shoulder defining a first ramped surface;
• and
• a pivot pin including a body and a head, the body extending through the second aperture and engaged within the first aperture, the head defining a second ramped surface directly contacting the first ramped surface of the shoulder, the first ramped surface configured to slide along the second ramped surface, the first ramped surface having a size substantially the same as a size of the second ramped surface, the second proximal flange retained about the body between the first proximal flange and the head, and pivotable about the body and relative to the first proximal flange for moving the jaw members between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position,
• wherein, the first and second ramped surfaces are configured such that, in the spaced-apart position of the jaw members, a maximum clearance is defined between the first and second proximal flanges, and such that, in the approximated position of the jaw members, a minimum clearance is defined between the first and second proximal flanges,
• wherein the first ramped surface includes first and second ramped segments interconnected by first and second steps, and wherein the second ramped surface includes third and fourth ramped segments interconnected by third and fourth steps, the first step configured to contact the third step and the second step configured to contact the fourth step.

A pivot assembly, comprising:

• a pivot pin including a body and a head, the head defining a first ramped surface including first and second ramped segments respectively interconnected by first and second steps, the pivot pin configured to facilitate movement of the first and second jaw members relative to one another between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween;
• and
• a flange including a second ramped surface directly contacting the first ramped surface, the second ramped surface including respective third and fourth ramped segments interconnected by third and fourth steps, the first step configured to contact the third step and the second step configured to contact the fourth step,
• wherein extending distances of each of the first, second, third and fourth ramped segments are substantially the same, wherein the first and third ramped segments are configured to slide along each other, and wherein the second and fourth ramped segments are configured to slide along each other,
• wherein, in the spaced-apart position of the jaw members, the first and second ramped surfaces are oppositely disposed to define a first distance between the first and second jaw members, and
• wherein, in the approximated position of the jaw members, the first and second ramped surfaces are similarly disposed to define a second distance between the first and second jaw members.