Cable-actuated jaw assembly for surgical instruments
First Claim
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1. A jaw assembly for a surgical instrument, said assembly comprising:
- at least a first rod having a first axial portion defining a right-hand thread and a second axial portion defining a left-hand thread;
a first jaw defining a first right-hand threaded bore for receiving and threadingly engaging said first rod first axial portion;
a second jaw defining a first left-hand threaded bore for receiving and threadingly engaging said first rod second axial portion; and
a cord operatively associated with said first rod to apply torque to said first rod and effect rotation of said first rod when the cord is pulled whereby said jaws move toward or away from each other depending upon the direction of rotation of said first rod.
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Abstract
A jaw assembly is provided with a pair of jaws which are closed with a flexible, tension member that is pulled by the operator of the instrument. In a preferred embodiment, one of the jaws is pivotally mounted in a slot to the other jaw. A cord, having a loop configuration, is attached to the pivoting jaw and can be pulled to pivot the jaw closed. A second cord can be provided to initially hold the proximal end of the pivoting jaw away from the other jaw until the distal ends of the jaws are closer together. In another embodiment, jaws can be closed in a parallel orientation by rotating two pulleys with threaded shafts engaged with the jaws.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A jaw assembly for a surgical instrument, said assembly comprising:
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at least a first rod having a first axial portion defining a right-hand thread and a second axial portion defining a left-hand thread; a first jaw defining a first right-hand threaded bore for receiving and threadingly engaging said first rod first axial portion; a second jaw defining a first left-hand threaded bore for receiving and threadingly engaging said first rod second axial portion; and a cord operatively associated with said first rod to apply torque to said first rod and effect rotation of said first rod when the cord is pulled whereby said jaws move toward or away from each other depending upon the direction of rotation of said first rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A jaw assembly for a surgical instrument, said assembly comprising:
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a first jaw having a distal end and a proximal end; a movable second jaw having a distal end and a proximal end, said second jaw being mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis toward and away from said first jaw; and an operating cord engaged with said second jaw distally of said pivot axis for pulling said second jaw to pivot the distal end of said second jaw toward said first jaw. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification