Surgical instruments and method for applying progressive intracorporeal traction

A surgical instrument for applying traction on tissue, comprising:

• an elongate introducer member;
• an arm structure having at least a first arm working end associated with a distal end of said introducer member;
• a rolling track adapted to engage tissue and incorporated into said first arm working end;
• and
• a track drive mechanism operatively connected to said rolling track.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• an elongate introducer member;
• an arm structure coupled to a distal end of said introducer member, said arm structure including:
• first and second cooperating jaw elements each having a proximal forearm and a distal working end, each forearm rotating around a primary pivot coupled to said distal end of said introducer member, each working end being pivotably connected to a respective forearm by a secondary pivot;
• a working end-actuation mechanism coupled to each working end, thereby causing each working end to separate from and converge toward one another around its secondary pivot;
• and
• a forearm-actuation mechanism coupled to each forearm, thereby causing each working end to separate from and converge toward one another around its secondary pivot.

A surgical instrument that engages tissue, comprising:

• an extension member;
• a jaw structure with first and second jaws respectively having first and second proximal portions and first and second distal working ends, and each proximal portion rotating around an associated primary pivot associated with a distal end of said extension member, each working end being pivotably connected to the associated proximal portion by a secondary pivot;
• a working end-actuation mechanism operatively connected to said first and second working ends thereby to rotate said first and second working ends around said secondary pivots, thereby causing said first and second working ends to separate from and converge toward one another;
• and
• a proximal portion-actuation mechanism operatively connected to said first and second jaws thereby to rotate said first and second jaws around said primary pivots and thereby causing said first and second working ends to further separate from and converge toward one another.

A method of applying traction to tissue in an endoscopic workspace, comprising:

• introducing a distal end of an introducer that incorporates a rolling track adapted for engaging tissue into said workspace proximate to said tissue;
• pressing said rolling track against said tissue to engage said tissue;
• and
• rolling said rolling track, thereby applying traction on said tissue.

A method of applying traction on tissue in an endoscopic workspace, comprising:

• introducing a distal end of an introducer into said workspace proximate to said tissue, wherein said distal end includes first and second pivotable opposing jaws each having a rolling track;
• closing said opposing pivotable jaws around said tissue;
• and
• rolling said rolling tracks, thereby applying traction on opposing sides of said tissue.