Medical forceps with offset teeth

A medical instrument comprising:

• a forceps including:
• a first jaw including a first tooth having:
• i. a first proximally facing canted tooth surface;
• ii. a first distally facing canted tooth surface;
• and
• a second jaw including a second tooth having:
• i. a second proximally facing tooth surface;
• and
• ii. a second distally facing canted tooth surface;
• wherein the second jaw includes a third tooth having:
• i. a third proximally facing tooth surface;
• and
• ii. a third distally facing tooth surface;
• wherein in a gripping position, the first distally facing canted tooth surface generally opposes the third proximally facing tooth surface so that a first gap is defined therebetween;
• wherein a width of the first gap increases from an upper portion of the third proximally facing tooth surface to a lower portion of the third proximally facing tooth surface;
• wherein the third proximally facing tooth surface is perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the second jaw extending between a proximal end of the second jaw and a distal end of the second jaw;
• wherein a second gap between at least a portion of the first proximally facing canted tooth surface and a corresponding portion of the second distally facing canted tooth surface is nearly constant;
• wherein an upper peak is defined between the first proximally facing canted tooth surface and the first distally facing canted tooth surface, and a valley is defined between the second distally facing canted tooth surface and the third proximally facing tooth surface, and
• wherein an axis extending through the upper peak and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second jaw is offset relative to an axis extending through the valley and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second jaw.

A jaw assembly comprising:

• an upper jaw comprising an upper tooth, the upper tooth comprising:
• an upper proximally facing tooth surface, an upper distally facing tooth surface, and an upper jaw peak that is defined between the upper proximally facing tooth surface and the upper distally facing tooth surface;
• and
• a lower jaw comprising a lower socket, the lower socket comprising:
• a lower distally facing socket surface, a lower proximally facing socket surface, and a lower jaw valley that is defined between the lower distally facing socket surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface;
• wherein a first gap is defined between the upper proximally facing tooth surface and the lower distally facing socket surface, and a second gap is defined between the upper distally facing tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface;
• wherein a width of the first gap decreases continuously in a proximal direction from the upper jaw peak, and a width of the second gap decreases continuously in a distal direction from the upper jaw peak;
• and
• wherein an axis extending through the upper jaw peak and the lower jaw valley is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the jaw assembly.