Medical device having linear to rotation control

A medical instrument comprising:

• a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a shaft formed of at least a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment, the shaft at least partially received in the sleeve and including a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector connected to the shaft distal end, and a shaft portion having a discontinuous outer surface profile;
• a handle assembly attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly capable of controlling at least a linear movement of the shaft;
• a torque transmitter element fixedly located within the sleeve and having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the shaft portion, a surface surrounding the opening having a discontinuous profile for mating with the discontinuous profile of the shaft portion so that a linear movement of the shaft causes a rotational motion of the end effector;
• and
• a pivot connector located within the sleeve and proximal to the torque transmitter element, the pivot connector including a housing for receiving a distal end of the first shaft segment and a proximal end of the second shaft segment, the housing substantially restricting relative linear movement between the first and second shaft segments while allowing unrestricted relative rotational movement between the first and second shaft segments.

A medical instrument comprising:

• a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a shaft formed of at least a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment, the shaft at least partially received in the sleeve and including a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector connected to the shaft distal end, and a shaft portion having a discontinuous outer surface profile;
• a handle assembly attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly capable of controlling at least a linear movement of the shaft;
• a torque transmitter element fixedly located within the sleeve and having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the shaft portion, a surface surrounding the opening having a discontinuous profile for mating with the discontinuous profile of the shaft portion so that a linear movement of the shaft causes a rotational motion of the end effector;
• and
• a clutch assembly located within the sleeve and distal of the torque transmitter element, the clutch assembly including a clutch housing for receiving a distal end of the first shaft segment and a proximal end of the second shaft segment, the housing restricting controlled rotational movement of the end effector to only one rotational direction.