Locking forceps

A forceps, comprising:

• a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis extending between proximal and distal ends of the housing;
• a first jaw slidably and pivotably connected to the housing;
• a second jaw slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, wherein the first and second jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration;
• a first connection member having a first end pivotably connected to the first jaw;
• a second connection member having a first end pivotably connected to the second jaw;
• a connecting pin assembly that slidably and pivotably connects the first and second jaws to the housing;
• and
• a driver operably connected to a second end of the first connection member and a second end of the second connection member,
• wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a proximal direction relative to the housing moves the first and second jaws, along with the connecting pin assembly, relative to the housing from the open configuration to the closed configuration,
• wherein translation of the first and second jaws and the connecting pin assembly relative to the housing is not constrained by the connection between the connecting pin assembly and the first and second jaws,
• wherein the connecting pin assembly extends between a first end and a second end along its length, wherein the connecting pin assembly includes a middle portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end of the connecting pin assembly each are configured to slide along a length of the housing, and
• wherein the housing comprises a forked portion including two forks, and wherein the two forks each include a non-through slot configured to slidably receive the first end and the second end of the connecting pin assembly, respectively.

A forceps, comprising:

• a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis extending between proximal and distal ends of the housing;
• a first jaw slidably and pivotably connected to the housing;
• a second jaw slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, wherein the first and second jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration;
• a first connection member having a first end pivotably connected to the first jaw;
• a second connection member having a first end pivotably connected to the second jaw;
• a connecting pin assembly that slidably and pivotably connects the first and second jaws to the housing;
• and
• a driver operably connected to a second end of the first connection member and a second end of the second connection member,
• wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a proximal direction relative to the housing moves the first and second jaws, along with the connecting pin assembly, relative to the housing from the open configuration to the closed configuration,
• wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a distal direction relative to the housing moves the first and second jaws, along with the connecting pin assembly, relative to the housing from the closed configuration to the open configuration,
• wherein the connecting pin assembly extends between a first end and a second end along its length, wherein the connecting pin assembly includes a middle portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end of the connecting pin assembly each are configured to slide along a length of the housing, and wherein the middle portion of the connecting pin assembly is configured to rotatably connect the first jaw and the second jaw, and
• wherein the connecting pin assembly includes a first half-pin associated with the first jaw and a second half-pin associated with the second jaw, wherein the first half-pin and the second half-pin each include an outboard portion and an inboard portion, wherein the outboard portion of the first half-pin and the outboard portion of the second half-pin each are configured to slide along a length of the housing, and wherein the inboard portion of the first half-pin and the inboard portion of the second half-pin face and interact with one another.