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Method for operating a surgical instrument

  • US 5,626,587 A
  • Filed: 05/17/1995
  • Issued: 05/06/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a surgical instrument wherein said instrument has (1) a frame having a pistol handle grip which is fixed relative to said frame and which is adapted to be held in the palm of the hand while the fingers of the hand extend around one side of the grip and the thumb of the hand extends around another side of the grip, (2) an elongated shaft mounted to said frame for rotation relative thereto, (3) a rotatable first knob on said shaft located adjacent said frame;

  • (4) a support defining a longitudinal axis and movably mounted to said shaft for movement to an angled orientation relative to said shaft, (5) a rotatable second knob on said frame spaced proximally of said first knob and operatively engaged with said support for effecting pivoting of said support, (6) an end effector mounted to said support for rotation about said longitudinal axis, (7) a rotatable third knob on said frame operatively engaged with said end effector for effecting rotation of said end effector on said support, and (8) a trigger lever mounted distally of said handle grip on said frame for pivotal movement toward and away from said handle grip and operatively engaged with said end effector for effecting operation of said end effector, said method comprising the steps of;

    (A) engaging said first knob with a digit of said hand to turn said first knob and rotate said shaft to a selected orientation;

    (B) moving a digit of said hand to engage said second knob without extending said digit to and adjacent said first knob, and turning said second knob with said digit to move said support to a selected orientation while said digit is free of engagement with said first knob;

    (C) engaging said third knob with a digit of said hand to turn said third knob and rotate said end effector to a selected orientation; and

    (D) after performing steps (A), (B), and (C) in any desired sequence, pulling said trigger lever proximally toward said handle grip with a digit of said hand to operate said end effector.

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