Actuating and locking mechanism for a surgical tool
First Claim
1. An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument comprising an actuating device having an actuator surface whereby the actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating device in an actuated position from a rest position for actuating a surgical tool, wherein the actuator surface comprises a radially collapsible cage having a plurality of interdigitating actuating pads, each pad being movable in a radial direction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument including an actuating device having an actuator surface. The actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating device in an actuated position from a rest position for actuating a surgical tool. The actuator surface comprises a radially collapsible cage having a plurality of interdigitating actuating pads. Each pad is movable in a radial direction.
-
Citations
25 Claims
- 1. An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument comprising an actuating device having an actuator surface whereby the actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating device in an actuated position from a rest position for actuating a surgical tool, wherein the actuator surface comprises a radially collapsible cage having a plurality of interdigitating actuating pads, each pad being movable in a radial direction.
- 18. A locking mechanism for locking a surgical tool of a surgical instrument in its actuated position comprising interengaging means having a plurality of settings to lock the surgical tool in any one of a plurality of actuated positions, the interengaging means comprising latching means and actuator means wherein the latching means comprises a first stepped surface and the actuator means comprises, a second stepped surface, any one of the steps of the second stepped surface of the actuator means interengaging any one of the steps of the first stepped surface of the latching means to lock the actuator means in any one of a plurality of actuated positions, wherein the axial depth of each step of the second stepped surface of the actuator means is greater than the axial depth of each step of the first stepped surface of the latching means.
Specification