Surgical grasper with integrated probe

A surgical instrument for minimally invasive surgical procedures comprising:

• an elongated portion;
• first and second jaws extending distally of the elongated portion, the first and second jaws transitionable between open and closed positions;
• a sheath extending through the elongated portion, the sheath operatively coupled with the first and second jaws such that axial displacement of the sheath transitions the first and second jaws between the open and closed positions;
• and
• a probe disposed at least partially within the sheath and extending distally from the sheath, wherein axial displacement of the sheath transitions the probe between an advanced position in which the first and second jaws are in the closed position and a retracted position in which the first and second jaws are in the open position.

An end effector of a surgical instrument comprising:

• first and second jaws transitionable between an open position and a closed position, the first and second jaws defining cam slots;
• a tissue probe for imaging tissue, the tissue probe movable between a retracted position and an advanced position;
• and
• a sheath operatively coupled with the first and second jaws such that axial displacement of the sheath transitions the first and second jaws between the open and closed positions, the sheath including transverse posts slidably received in the cam slots of the first and second jaws, wherein the tissue probe is operatively associated with the sheath such that transitioning the first and second jaws to the open position transitions the tissue probe to the retracted position and transitioning the first and second jaws to the closed position transitions the tissue probe to the advanced position.