Apparatus for Endoscopic Procedures

A shaft assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effector and an electromechanical power source, the shaft assembly comprising:

• an outer tube;
• a rotatable drive shaft supported therein;
• a proximal neck housing supported at a distal end of the outer tube;
• a distal neck housing pivotally connected to the proximal neck housing, wherein a distal end of the distal neck housing is configured and adapted for operative connection with the end effector;
• a pivot pin interconnecting the proximal neck housing and the distal neck housing;
• and
• a gear train supported in the proximal neck housing, on the pivot pin, and in the distal neck housing, wherein the gear train includes:
• a proximal gear rotatably supported in the proximal neck housing and being coupled to a distal end of the rotatable drive shaft;
• an intermediate gear rotatably supported on the pivot pin and being in operative engagement with the proximal gear;
• a distal gear rotatably supported in the distal neck housing and being in operative engagement with the intermediate gear;
• and
• a pair of output gears rotatably supported in the distal neck housing and each being in operative engagement with the distal gear, wherein each output gear defines a coupling socket each configured to selectively receive the drive axle of the end effector.