United States Surgical Corporation

Black Decker Inc.

Union Carbide Corporation

Dynamics Corporation of America

Paul O Rawson

Richard H Yagami

David T Green

Louis E Nagy

Henry Bolanos

Douglas G Noiles

David A Nicholas

Richard A McGarry

George J Veth

Leon C Hirsch

H Jonathan Tovey

Thomas D Guy

Sally A Hattle

Mace H Bell

Stanley J Brym

Edward W Larrabee

Alfred G Evans

Joseph T Remo

Richard Hajime Yagami

A surgical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing portion and an endoscopic portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the endoscopic portion including a pair of coaxial members attached at the proximal end to the housing portion. The endoscopic portion also includes an inner rod member slidable within an outer tube member. The endoscopic portion terminates at the distal end in a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation and relatively pivotal about a common point between at least an open position and a closed position. A jaw control mechanism is associated with the housing portion, and includes at least one actuating member movably mounted in the housing portion. The actuation member has at least one gripping portion thereon such that an operator of the instrument can better manipulate the actuating member with a single hand. A linking member is pivotally connected to the actuating member and the inner rod member. A notch portion is disposed on the rod member such that when the actuating member is moved in relation to the housing portion in a first direction to a first position the engaging portion engages the notch, locking the jaws in a closed position. The surgical instrument also includes means for preventing the inner rod member from moving from the first position whereby coaxial reciprocating forces are created in the inner rod member when the locking means are moved to the first position.

Growing community of inventors

Easton, CT, United States of America

Paul O Rawson