Surgical device

An in-line surgical instrument having a handle operatively connected to an elongate shaft, the handle comprising:

• a first handle member;
• a second handle member pivotably connected to the first handle member near a proximal end of both handle members;
• and
• a ratchet mechanism disposed distal relative to the pivotable connection and configured for removably engaging the first and second handle members, the ratchet mechanism comprising first and second ratchet mechanism portions,
• wherein the first ratchet mechanism portion comprises:
• an L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member;
• a cammed lever member;
• and
• a camming switch;
• wherein the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member is mounted pivotably to and projects from the first handle member toward the second handle member, the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member comprising a toothed portion generally perpendicular to a lever-arm projection portion;
• wherein the camming switch is mounted pivotably to and projects from the first handle member away from the second handle member;
• wherein the cammed lever member comprises a camming end, a levering end, a pivot axis therebetween connecting the cammed lever member pivotably to the first handle member;
• and
• wherein the camming switch contacts the camming end of the cammed lever member and the levering end of the cammed lever member contacts the lever-arm projection of the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member;
• the camming end comprising a protruding camming surface and a depressed camming surface;
• and
• wherein the second ratchet mechanism portion comprises:
• a pawl member mounted to the second handle member, the pawl member including a pawl tooth portion and a pawl leg portion, wherein the pawl tooth portion projects toward, and is configured to engage with, the toothed portion of the ratchet-toothed engagement member;
• and
• wherein, a biasing spring contacting the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member biases said L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member into engagement with the pawl tooth portion;
• and
• wherein, the camming switch and the camming end of the cammed lever member are configured such that when the camming switch is disposed at a first angle relative to the cammed lever member, a first operative contact between the camming switch and the protruding camming surface of the cammed lever member levers the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member out of its biased engagement with the pawl tooth portion of the pawl member;
• and
• wherein, the camming switch and the camming end of the cammed lever member are also configured such that when the camming switch is disposed at a second angle relative to the cammed lever member, a second operative contact between the camming switch and the depressed camming surface of the cammed lever member levers the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member out of its biased engagement with the pawl tooth portion of the pawl member.

A single-switch release/defeat ratchet mechanism for an in-line surgical instrument handle, the ratchet mechanism comprising:

• a cam switch member, a pivotable ratchet member in operative contact with the cam switch member, a biasing member, and a pawl member;
• wherein, when the mechanism is in a ratchet-engaged state, the cam switch member occupies a neutral first position such that the operative contact is minimal and the biasing member biases the ratchet member into engagement with the pawl member;
• wherein, when the mechanism is in a ratchet-released state, the cam switch member occupies a second position such that the operative contact opposes the bias of the biasing member and releases the ratchet member from engagement with the pawl member;
• and
• wherein, when the mechanism is in a ratchet-defeated state, the cam switch member occupies a third position such that the operative contact biases the ratchet member out of engagement with the pawl member.

An in-line surgical instrument having a handle ratchet mechanism with a single-switch release/defeat feature, the handle ratchet mechanism comprising:

• a first engagement member;
• a second engagement member pivotably mounted to a handle portion and projecting toward the first engagement member, a first end portion of the second engagement member being spring-biased into engagement with the first engagement member;
• and
• a cam switch movably connected to the handle portion and comprising an operative contact with a second end portion of the second engagement member;
• wherein, when the cam switch is oriented at a first position relative to the second engagement member, the operative contact is sufficient to pivot the second engagement member so as to overcome the spring-biased engagement of the second engagement member with the first engagement member;
• and
• wherein, when the cam switch is oriented at a second position relative to the second engagement member, the operative contact is sufficient to pivot the second engagement member so as to overcome the biased engagement of the second engagement member with the first engagement member and is also sufficient to bias the second engagement member out of engagement with the first engagement member.

An in-line surgical instrument having a handle operatively connected to an elongate shaft, the handle comprising:

• a first handle member pivotably connected near a proximal end thereof to a second handle member near a proximal end thereof;
• a ratchet-toothed engagement member comprised by the first handle member;
• a pawl engagement member pivotably mounted in the second handle member, a portion of the toothed engagement member being biased into engagement with the pawl engagement member;
• and
• an elongate camming switch pivotably connected to the first handle member and comprising an operative contact with a surface of the toothed engagement member;
• wherein, when the elongate camming switch is oriented in a first position relative to the toothed engagement member, the operative contact provides a force sufficient to overcome the biased engagement of the toothed engagement member with the pawl engagement member;
• and
• wherein, when the elongate camming switch is oriented in a second position relative to the toothed engagement member, the operative contact is sufficient to pivot the toothed engagement member so as to overcome the biased engagement of the toothed engagement member with the pawl engagement member and is sufficient to bias the toothed engagement member out of engagement with the pawl engagement member.