Pin-less surgical instrument

A surgical instrument comprising a first stationary jaw member, a second movable jaw member and a coupling actuator member that is movable relative to said first stationary jaw member and engages said moveable jaw member;

• (a) said stationary jaw member defining at least one groove, said coupling actuator member defining a guide being slidably disposed in said at least one groove to allow axial movement along said at least one groove, said movable jaw member being mounted in a throughgoing slot defined in said first stationary jaw member and being capable of pivotal movement towards and away from said first stationary jaw member, said first stationary jaw member defining at least one arcuate projection which is mounted in a respective arcuate cutout of said moveable jaw member and an arcuate cutout which receives an arcuate projection of said movable jaw member to form a pivot point;
• (b) said movable jaw member and said coupling actuator member being movably interconnected, said coupling member defining an arcuate cutout which receives an arcuate projection extending from said moveable jaw member body so as to couple said coupling member to said movable jaw member rotating said moveable jaw member relative to said first stationary jaw member;
• said movable jaw member further defining a stepped open arcuate cutout on one side and a complimentary stepped arcuate projection on its other side and a spaced camming surface which is inclined upwards to a peak and downward to form two intersecting curved sides.
• (c) whereby when said coupling actuator member is moved in a first direction relative to said first stationary jaw member, said second movable jaw member will open away from said first stationary jaw member and when said actuator coupling member is moved in a second opposite direction relative to said first stationary jaw member, said second movable jaw member will close towards said first stationary jaw member, said first and second jaw members being arranged so that body tissue located between said first and second jaw member may be severed in a punching motion as said jaw members are opened and closed relative to one another by movement of said coupling member relative to said first stationary jaw member.

A miniature articulated tip instrument assembly comprising:

• (a) a fixed jaw housing with an elongated member extending therefrom, said elongated member defining a channel therein and having a distal end portion provided with a throughgoing slot and a pivotal mounting integrally formed therein for a movable jaw member;
• (b) an elongated drive member moveably mounted on said elongated member with its distal end being provided with at least one movable jaw member connecting means;
• (c) means to drive said elongated drive member mounted to said fixed jaw housing;
• (d) a movable jaw member mounted for rotation on said pivotal mounting of said fixed housing, said movable jaw member defining a semi-cylindrical projection which is mounted in a semi cylindrical cutout of said elongated drive member and an arcuate projection with a transverse sidewall which is positioned into a similarly shaped cutout cut through a wall of said movable jaw member into said throughgoing slot, said movable jaw member further defining a cutout positioned opposite said arcuate projection which is positioned over an arcuate projection extending from said fixed jaw housing into said throughgoing slot for rotating said jaw member towards or away from said fixed jaw housing elongated member to provide selective grasping, clamping, or cutting action.