Patent ID: 9579138
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing comprising an inner surface defining a cavity, a distal end of the housing comprising an opening that is in communication with the cavity; a shaft extending through a proximal end of the housing, the shaft comprising a distal end that defines a plunger that is disposed in the cavity; a first plate positioned within the cavity and comprising a first aperture, the shaft extending through the first aperture; a second plate positioned within the cavity and comprising a second aperture, the shaft extending through the second aperture; and a bias spring that engages the second plate to bias the second plate to a resting position in which the second plate is canted relative to the shaft such that the shaft engages the second plate, wherein the second plate moves from the resting position to an actuated position by moving the second plate distally within the cavity until the second plate engages a surface of the housing that extends perpendicular to the shaft such that the second plate extends perpendicular to the shaft to space the second plate apart from the shaft, wherein the shaft is movable between a first position in which the plates engage the shaft and the plunger is spaced apart a first distance from the opening and a second position in which the shaft is fixed relative to the first plate and is spaced apart from the second plate and the plunger is spaced apart a second distance from the opening that is less than the first distance.