Abstract: A forceps including a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The upper jaw includes an upper tooth having an upper proximally facing canted tooth surface and an upper distally facing canted tooth surface. The lower jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The lower jaw includes a socket having a lower distally facing canted socket surface and a lower proximally facing socket surface. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both are moveable so that the gripping assembly moves between an open position and a gripping position. In the gripping position, a gap is defined between the upper distally facing canted tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: (a) a stylet comprising: one or more support rods; (b) a hand piece comprising: one or more housing structures defining a cavity; and one or more actuating mechanisms comprising: one or more levers attached to one or more pivot axes in the hand piece and configured to form one or more slidable joints in communication with the one or more support rods; wherein the one or more levers are configured to be assembled by: being placed into the hand piece along the assembly direction before the stylet so the stylet may be placed into the hand piece over the one or more levers; or being placed into the hand piece along the assembly direction after the stylet so the one or more levers is placed into the hand piece over the stylet and in communication with the stylet.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a movement unit configured to be connected to a movable member, the movement unit including: (i) one or more bars; (ii) one or more bar biasing members in communication with the movement unit and moving the one or more bars; (b) a latch unit configured to be connected to a ground member, the latch unit including: (i) one or more hook latches that selectively receive the one or more bars, and (ii) one or more latch biasing members in communication with the one or more hook latches to selectively move the one or more hook latches; wherein all or a portion of the latch unit is movable relative to the ground member and all or a portion of the movement unit is movable relative to the movable member, and the latch unit and the movement unit are movable relative to each other when the latch unit and the movement unit are in contact.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly comprising: (a) a movement unit including (i) a bar and (ii) a contact element, wherein the bar, the contact element, or both move in a direction of a prescribed motion; (b) a latch unit comprising: (i) a latch plate including: (1) a hook latch that selectively receives the bar, the latch plate being movable between: (A) a lockable state where the hook latch is engageable by the bar, and (B) an unlockable state where the hook latch is unengageable by the bar; (c) an indicator mechanism that moves into alignment with the prescribed motion of the contact element, the bar, or both when the latch unit is in the unlockable state so that the indicator is contacted by the bar, the contacting element, or both generating an indication.

Abstract: An instrument that includes an outer member, an inner member, and a jaw assembly. The inner member includes a first arm and a second arm. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is connected to the first arm at a first pivot joint and to the outer member at a second pivot joint. The second jaw is connected to the second arm at a third pivot joint and to the outer member at a fourth pivot joint. The inner member is adapted to be moved distally relative to the outer member so that the first jaw pivots about the second pivot joint towards the second jaw and the second jaw pivots about the fourth pivot joint towards the first jaw thus moving the jaw assembly from the open position towards the closed position.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly comprising: (a) a movement unit including (i) a bar and (ii) a contact element, wherein the bar, the contact element, or both move in a direction of a prescribed motion; (b) a latch unit comprising: (i) a latch plate including: (1) a hook latch that selectively receives the bar, the latch plate being movable between: (A) a lockable state where the hook latch is engageable by the bar, and (B) an unlockable state where the hook latch is unengageable by the bar; (c) an indicator mechanism that moves into alignment with the prescribed motion of the contact element, the bar, or both when the latch unit is in the unlockable state so that the indicator is contacted by the bar, the contacting element, or both generating an indication.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising: a closure assembly including: (a) a movement unit configured to be connected to a movable member, the movement unit including: (i) one or more bars; (ii) one or more bar biasing members in communication with the movement unit and moving the one or more bars; (b) a latch unit configured to be connected to a ground member, the latch unit including: (i) one or more hook latches that selectively receive the one or more bars, and (ii) one or more latch biasing members in communication with the one or more hook latches to selectively move the one or more hook latches; wherein all or a portion of the latch unit is movable relative to the ground member and all or a portion of the movement unit is movable relative to the movable member, and the latch unit and the movement unit are movable relative to each other when the latch unit and the movement unit are in contact.

Abstract: A forceps including a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The upper jaw includes an upper tooth having an upper proximally facing canted tooth surface and an upper distally facing canted tooth surface. The lower jaw includes a proximal end, and a distal end. The lower jaw includes a socket having a lower distally facing canted socket surface and a lower proximally facing socket surface. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both are moveable so that the gripping assembly moves between an open position and a gripping position. In the gripping position, a gap is defined between the upper distally facing canted tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface.

Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.

Abstract: A forceps including a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The upper jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The upper jaw includes an upper tooth having an upper proximally facing canted tooth surface and an upper distally facing canted tooth surface. The lower jaw includes a proximal end and a distal end. The lower jaw includes a socket having a lower distally facing canted socket surface and a lower proximally facing socket surface. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both are moveable so that the gripping assembly moves between an open position and a gripping position. In the gripping position, a gap is defined between the upper distally facing canted tooth surface and the lower proximally facing socket surface.

Abstract: A forceps comprising: (a) a stylet having a hollow tube having a proximal end region and a longitudinal axis; one or more assemblies that are extendable through the hollow tube, the one or more assemblies comprising: one or more support rods and one or more functional attachments; (b) a hand piece comprising: one or more housing structures defining a cavity; one or more actuating mechanisms comprising: a bearing fitting; a shuttle in communication with the bearing fitting constrained by a plurality of guide ridges; a socket housed by the shuttle; and one or more levers in communication with stylet so that movement of the one or more levers causes movement of the hollow tube and movement of the one or more assemblies; and wherein the movement of the hollow tube and the movement of the one or more assemblies are relative to each other.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprising: forceps including: (i) a first working arm; (ii) a second working arm; (iii) a blade electrode; wherein the electrosurgical device is capable of being switched between a first electrical configuration so that the electrosurgical device delivers a first therapy current through the first working arm, the second working arm, or both, and a second electrical configuration so that the electrosurgical device delivers a second therapy current through the blade electrode; and wherein the electrosurgical device includes a heat pipe in the first working arm, the second working arm, or both.

Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.

Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.

Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.

Abstract: A laparoscopic forceps comprising a handpiece including a distal end portion; a tubular member protruding from the distal end portion of the handpiece, the tubular member having a distal end, a pair of jaws having legs that are disposed within the tubular member and partially protruding from the distal end of the tubular member, the pair of jaws and the tubular member being movable relative to each other in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member; wherein each of the pair of jaws has an arcuate section, and the pair of jaws are closable by advancing the tubular member over the arcuate section of the jaws; and an operable mechanism for creating relative motion between the pair of jaws and the tubular member along a direction parallel to the axis of the tubular member, wherein at the distal end portion of the tubular member there is a profile shape that is non-circular.

Abstract: A forceps comprising: (a) a stylet having a hollow tube having a proximal end region and a longitudinal axis; one or more assemblies that are extendable through the hollow tube, the one or more assemblies comprising: one or more support rods and one or more functional attachments; (b) a hand piece comprising: one or more housing structures defining a cavity; one or more actuating mechanisms comprising: a bearing fitting; a shuttle in communication with the bearing fitting constrained by a plurality of guide ridges; a socket housed by the shuttle; and one or more levers in communication with stylet so that movement of the one or more levers causes movement of the hollow tube and movement of the one or more assemblies; and wherein the movement of the hollow tube and the movement of the one or more assemblies are relative to each other.