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Endoscopic surgical instruments having stepped rotatable end effectors

  • US 5,293,878 A
  • Filed: 12/04/1992
  • Issued: 03/15/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A medical instrument, comprising:

  • a) a hollow outer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, said outer tube having an outer surface having a plurality of substantially identical peripherally radially spaced apart surface irregularities in a first proximally located portion of said outer tube;

    b) a push rod extending through said outer tube and having proximal and distal ends;

    c) an actuating means for imparting reciprocal axial motion to said push rod relative to said outer tube, said actuating means comprising grip means rotatably engaging said outer tube, and a lever means movably engaging said grip means and coupled to and rotatable about said proximal end of said push rod;

    d) end effector means coupled to said push rod at said distal end of said push rod and pivotally coupled to said outer tube, whereby said reciprocal axial motion of said push rod is translated to pivotal movement of said end effector means; and

    e) a fixing means having a compressed resilient member and a contact member for fixing said actuating means relative to said outer tube in any of a plurality of rotational settings, said resilient member having a first end fixedly coupled to said grip means and having a second end connected to said contact member, and said contact member being in contact with said outer tube, wherein said contact member is shaped to mate with said surface irregularities of said surface of said outer tube in a plurality of first positions to hold said actuating means rotationally fixed relative to said outer tube, and wherein application of substantial relative rotational force to said actuating means relative to said outer tube causes said resilient member to further compress such that said actuating means rotates relative to said outer tube with said contact member in a plurality of second positions, and wherein said fixing means is an electrode having a first electrically conductive portion extending from said resilient member through said grip means, said resilient member and said contact member being electrically conductive.

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