Adjustable length laparoscopic instrument

A laparoscopic instrument comprising:

• a shaft comprising a shaft distal end and a shaft proximal end, the shaft comprising shaft teeth that extend along at least a bottom portion of the shaft;
• an actuation rod comprising an actuation rod distal end and an actuation rod proximal end, the actuation rod receivable by the shaft such that the actuation rod will translate longitudinally relative to the shaft to actuate an end effector, the actuation rod comprising actuation rod teeth that extend along at least a bottom portion of the actuation rod, the actuation rod teeth located alongside the shaft teeth with the actuation rod located inside the shaft;
• a handle configured to hold the shaft and the actuation rod, the handle configured to cause the actuation rod to translate longitudinally relative to the shaft to actuate the end effector;
• and
• a length adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a shaft length, the shaft length defined between the handle and the shaft distal end, the length adjustment mechanism comprising a first gear configured to engage the shaft teeth such that rotation of the first gear translates the shaft longitudinally and a second gear configured to engage the actuation rod teeth such that rotation of the second gear translates the actuation rod longitudinally.