Forceps drive shaft control

A surgical tool comprising:

• an outer shaft extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a guide fixedly connected to the outer shaft;
• an end effector connected to the outer shaft distal of the guide;
• a drive shaft located within the outer shaft, extending along the longitudinal axis, and connected to the end effector, the drive shaft translatable with respect to the outer shaft to operate the end effector, and the drive shaft engageable with the guide to limit axial translation along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft with respect to the outer shaft, the drive shaft including axial tracks respectively located on opposite sides of the drive shaft, the axial tracks to engage the guide, the drive shaft translatable relative to the guide as the drive shaft translates relative to the outer shaft, respective proximal portions of the axial tracks engageable with the guide to limit distal translation of the drive shaft relative to the outer shaft;
• and
• a blade located within the drive shaft and translatable therein, the blade extending along the longitudinal axis, the blade including a blade track, the guide extending through the blade track to contact the blade track and limit rotation of the blade with respect to the guide and the outer shaft, the blade track having a length longer than a length of the axial tracks to permit translation of the blade with respect to the outer shaft without being stopped or limited by an end of an axial track.