Hermaphroditic stamped forceps jaw for disposable endoscopic biopsy forceps and method of making the same

A biopsy forceps jaw, comprising:

• a) a distal jaw cup having a cutting edge;
• and
• b) at least a first proximal tang extending proximally from said distal jaw cup and having a first mounting hole, wherein said biopsy forceps jaw is formed by,
• i) obtaining a sheet of metallic material;
• ii) cutting said sheet to form a pattern having a distal rounded edge and at least a first proximal lobe;
• iii) cutting said first mounting hole in said first proximal lobe;
• iv) forming said sheet to form said cup with said distal rounded edge forming said cutting edge;
• and
• v) bending said first proximal lobe to form said first proximal tang.

An endoscopic instrument, comprising:

• a) a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
• b) a control member extending through said hollow tube and having a proximal end and a distal end;
• c) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said control member for effecting longitudinal displacement of said control member relative to said hollow tube;
• d) a clevis means coupled to said distal end of said hollow tube;
• e) a first end effector having a distal working end and first and second substantially parallel tangs extending proximally from said distal working end, at least one of said tangs defining a mounting hole for mounting said end effector on said clevis means and at least one of said tangs defining a coupling hole for coupling said end effector to said control member;
• and
• f) a second end effector having a distal working end and first and second substantially parallel tangs extending proximally from said distal working end, at least one of said tangs defining a mounting hole for mounting said end effector on said clevis means and at least one of said tangs defining a coupling hole for coupling said end effector to said control member, wherein
• said first tang of said first end effector is shorter than said second tang of said first end effector, and said first tang of said second end effector is shorter than said second tang of said second end effector.