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Surgical instrument

  • US 5,334,198 A
  • Filed: 10/09/1992
  • Issued: 08/02/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:

  • a handle assembly, said handle assembly having a handle unit and a trigger member pivotally mounted to said handle unit, said trigger member being movable on its pivot between first and second positions;

    an elongate rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

    means mounted in said handle unit for releasably securing said proximal end of said rod to said handle unit so that said rod forms an extension thereof;

    a tool head attached to said distal end of saidrod, said tool head comprising first and second cooperating tool members movable relative to one another between a first open position and a second closed position, said first and second tool members normally being in said first open position;

    a hollow tube coaxially and slidably surrounding said rod, said tube having a first proximal end slidably received in said handle unit and a second distal end that is movable into and out of overlapping relation with said first and second operating tool members as said hollow tube is reciprocated axially relative to said rod;

    force transmitting means connecting said hollow tube and said trigger member for causing said hollow tube to shift axially relative to said rod between (1) a first retracted position when said trigger member is in its said first position and (2) a second extended position when said trigger member is in its said second position, said first and second tool members being in said first open position and said distal end of said hollow tube being in a non-biasing position relative to said tool head when said hollow tube is in its first retracted position, said distal end of said hollow tube overlapping and biasing said said first and second tool members into said second closed position when said hollow tube is moved to its said second extended position, said force transmitting means comprising a coupling member attached to the proximal end of said hollow tube and surrounding said rod; and

    means attached to said handle unit for slidably supporting said coupling member for reciprocal movement relative to said rod lengthwise of the axis of said rod;

    said force transmitting means further comprising first and second mutually engaging means on said coupling member and said trigger member respectively that form a pivotal connection between said coupling member and said trigger member, whereby pivoting movement of said trigger member relative to said handle unit causes said hollow tube to shift axially relative to said rod from one to the other of said first retracted position and said second extended position.

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