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Jaw movement mechanism and method for a surgical tool

  • US 8,663,270 B2
  • Filed: 07/23/2010
  • Issued: 03/04/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A minimally invasive surgical tool having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw for grasping tissue by transverse movement of the moveable jaw relative to the stationary jaw at a distal end of a shaft assembly connected to a handle assembly, the handle assembly creating relative reciprocating movement transferred through a relatively stationary shaft member and a relatively movable shaft member of the shaft assembly to a jaw movement mechanism, the stationary jaw rigidly connected to the relatively stationary shaft member, each jaw has a straight working surface, the working surfaces of the jaws extend at an angular orientation with respect to one another at a fully open position, the working surfaces of the jaws extend at a parallel orientation with respect to one another at an intermediate position, the working surfaces of the jaws extend at a parallel orientation with respect to one another at a fully closed position, the jaw movement mechanism maintains the working surfaces of the jaws in the parallel orientation with respect to one another during transverse movement of the jaws between the intermediate position and the fully closed position, the jaw movement mechanism comprising:

  • a pivot link having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the pivot link pivotally connected to the relatively stationary shaft member by a pivot pin and the distal end of the pivot link pivotally connected to a proximal end of the movable jaw by a rear pin located within a rear slot defining a proximal lateral displacement for each change in longitudinal position of the relatively movable shaft member with respect to the relatively stationary shaft member, the rear slot being formed in the stationary shaft member; and

    a front pin located within a front slot defining a distal lateral displacement for each longitudinal position of the relatively movable shaft member with respect to the relatively stationary shaft member,wherein each of the rear slot and the front slot comprises a primary segment defining the respective lateral displacements moving the movable jaw between the intermediate position and the fully closed position, andwherein the proximal lateral displacement defined for each longitudinal position in the primary segment of the rear slot is equal to the distal lateral displacement defined for each longitudinal position in the primary segment of the front slot.

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