Patent ID: 6187026
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical instrument comprising a handle shaped to enable it to be freely rotated by the user's fingers about its longitudinal axis in the hand of the user, and held by the user at any angle of rotation about its longitudinal axis; the handle having an elongate shaft extending therefrom and a surgical tool mounted on the shaft at a location remote from the handle; the handle being provided with an actuator operably linked to the surgical tool, the actuator being mechanically linked to an actuating rod disposed slidably within the elongate shaft, which rod is in turn linked to the surgical tool on the end of the shaft, the actuating rod having a camming edge or surface associated therewith; the actuator having an actuator surface or surfaces extending around substantially the entire circumference of the handle and comprising a plurality of radially displaceable actuator elements disposed around the circumference of the handle, each actuator element being provided with a wedging member; the actuator being operable by applying pressure at substantially any circumferential location on the actuator surface or surfaces to urge a said actuator element radially inwardly such that the wedging member of the said actuator element cams against the camming edge or surface associated with the actuating rod to displace the camming edge or surface in a longitudinal direction thereby converting radially inward movement of the actuator element into longitudinal movement of the actuating rod within the elongate shaft so as to actuate the surgical tool.