Endoscopic surgical instrument

An endoscopic surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a pivoting handle;
• a body assembly including a pair of coaxial members attached at a proximal end portion to said handle assembly and defining a generally longitudinal axis, said body assembly having an inner rod member slidable distally and proximally in relation to an outer tube member, said inner rod member being attached to said pivoting handle for distal and proximal movement in response to movement of said pivoting handle and terminating at a distal end portion in a bearing surface;
• and
• a tool mechanism comprising a pair of tool members pivotably secured in relation to each other at a distal end portion of said outer tube member at a pivot pin, for movement between an open and a closed position, said tool members each having a distal end portion, said distal end portions being adjacent each other when said tool mechanism is in said closed position and being apart from each other when said tool mechanism is in said open position, one of said tool members being provided with a pair of camming members extending proximally thereof and defining an elongated slot having a camming surface which is slidably engaged by said bearing surface of said inner rod member;
• wherein movement of said pivoting handle slides said inner rod member in relation to said outer tube member in a first direction to open said tool mechanism and in a second direction to close said tool mechanism, such that said bearing surface of said inner rod member slidably engages and travels over said camming surface of said tool mechanism to pivot said tool mechanism to open and close said tool members.

An endoscopic surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle assembly including a stationary handle member and a pivoting handle member;
• a body assembly including a pair of coaxial members attached at a first end to said handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, said body assembly having a first coaxial member comprising a tube attached at a proximal end to said stationary handle, and a second coaxial member comprising a rod slidably positioned within said tube and attached at a proximal end to said pivoting handle, such that movement of said pivoting handle slides said rod in a reciprocating manner within said tube;
• a jaw mechanism including a pair of jaw members pivotably attached at a pivot axis to said tube for movement between an open and closed position, said jaw members each including a pair of camming members extending proximally thereof and defining an elongated slot having a camming surface which is slidingly engaged by a bearing surface at a distal end of said rod during reciprocation of said rod for effecting an opening and closing motion of said jaw mechanism, such that said bearing surface slidably engages and travels over said camming surface, said jaw members each having a distal end, said distal ends being adjacent each other when said jaw mechanism is in said closed position and being apart from each other when said jaw mechanism is in said open position;
• and
• an electrocautery port for reception of an electrical connector, said port being positioned on said stationary handle for electrically energizing said tube to create an electrical potential at said jaw mechanism for electrocauterization of tissue during surgery.

An endoscopic surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a pivoting handle;
• an elongated outer tube member extending into said stationary handle;
• an elongated inner rod member coaxially positioned within said elongated outer tube member and secured to said pivoting handle, said elongated inner rod member being slidable in said elongated outer tube member in a first direction and in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to movement of said pivoting handle;
• a jaw mechanism including a pair of jaw members pivotably secured to an end of said elongated outer tube member remote from said handle assembly for movement between an open and a closed position, said jaw members each having a distal end, said distal ends being adjacent each other when said jaw mechanism is in said closed position and being apart from each other when said jaw mechanism is in said open position, said jaw members each having a pair of camming members extending proximally thereof and defining an elongated slot having a camming surface over which a bearing member attached to an end of said elongated inner rod member remote from said handle assembly slidably engages and travels to effect opening and closing of said jaw members;
• and
• a rotatable cylindrically-shaped knob positioned in a transverse slot which extends through said stationary handle, said knob having a passage through which said elongated outer tube member and said elongated inner rod member extend, said knob being secured to said elongated outer tube member;
• wherein rotation of said knob effects rotation of said elongated outer tube member, said elongated inner rod member and said jaw mechanism.

An endoscopic surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle assembly including a stationary handle and a pivoting handle connected to said stationary handle at a first pivot pin;
• a body assembly defining a longitudinal axis of said instrument including an outer tube and an inner rod slidably positioned coaxially within said outer tube, said outer tube secured to said stationary handle, and said inner rod secured to said pivoting handle at a second pivot pin;
• means associated with said second pivot pin for maintaining said inner rod in substantial alignment with said longitudinal axis;
• a jaw mechanism secured at an end of said outer tube remote from said handle assembly, said jaw mechanism comprising a pair of reciprocating jaw members which reciprocate about a third pivot pin on said outer tube, each jaw member having a pair of camming members extending proximally thereof and defining a cam slot through which extends a post member attached to said inner rod at an end remote from said handle assembly, such that movement of said inner rod within said outer tube causes said post member to slide in said cam slots to open and close said jaw members;
• an electrical port formed in said stationary handle for reception of an electrical jack member, said port electrically connecting said jack member with said outer tube for conducting current along said outer tube to said jaw members for cauterizing tissue during use;
• and
• a cylindrical knob member positioned in a slot in said stationary handle concentrically aligned with said outer tube and secured circumferentially about said outer tube for rotationally moving said outer tube, said inner rod and said jaw mechanism to position said jaw mechanism at various points in relation to said longitudinal axis of said instrument during use.