Laparoscopic Dual Grasper

It will be obvious to the experienced eye, or to those skilled in the art, that many variations from this basic design are possible and these may include the following:

• In the one piece non-sliding version, variations are possible in the dimensions of the components of the device;
• in the design and shape of the jaws;
• the jaws could be angled, or able to flex;
• in the combination of the jaws and other possible end effectors, such as scissors;
• in the design of the actuating mechanism which could be replaced by a simple flat spring;
• the said gap between the said two pairs of jaws may be smaller or greater than the prescribed 2 mm;
• the outside diameter of the common external shaft may vary from 5 mm to 10 mm;
• the axial alignment of the two rods instead of being at 12 & 6 o'clock, may be at 9 & 3 o'clock or any other such combination;
• and in the sliding version of the said instrument, variations are possible in the shape and design of the interlocking mechanism between the two said shafts.