A medical device (20, 40) for engaging tissue, the medical device (20, 40) comprising: a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis extending between proximal and distal ends of the housing, the housing defining a jaw guide surface, a first link guide surface and a second link guide surface, each of the guide surfaces (86, 82, 84) extending longitudinally between proximal and distal portions of the guide surfaces; a first jaw slidably and pivotally connected to the housing, the first jaw having proximal and distal ends (64, 60), the first jaw slidably received within the internal passageway for longitudinal movement along the jaw guide surface; a second jaw slidably and pivotally connected to the housing, the second jaw having proximal and distal ends (66, 62), the second jaw slidably received within the internal passageway for longitudinal movement along the jaw guide surface; wherein the first jaw is substantially positioned on a first side of a jaw plane extending through the longitudinal axis, and the second jaw is substantially positioned on a second side of the jaw plane; a first link having first and second ends (74, 76), the first end fixedly attached to the first jaw, the second end slidably and pivotally attached to the housing for longitudinal movement along the first link guide surface; a second link having first and second ends (74, 76), the first end fixedly attached to the second jaw, the second end slidably and pivotally attached to the housing for longitudinal movement along the second link guide surface; a driver operatively connected to the first and second jaws (44, 46), wherein longitudinal movement of the driver moves the first and second jaws (44, 46) longitudinally along the jaw guide surface and moves the second ends of the first and second links (68, 70) along the first and second link guide surfaces (82, 84), and wherein the first and second link guide surfaces (82, 84) each has a proximal portion and a distal portion (83, 85) extending transversely relative to the proximal portion, such that longitudinal movement of the second ends of the first and second links (68, 70) therethrough rotates the first and second jaws (44, 46) relative to the housing; characterized in that the jaw guide surface is arranged parallel to the jaw plane, the first link guide surface extends along a first link path spaced away from the jaw plane, the second link guide surface extends along a second link path spaced away from the jaw plane, and the proximal portion of each of the first and second link guide surfaces (82, 84) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis extending between proximal and distal ends of the housing, the housing defining a jaw guide surface, a first link guide surface and a second link guide surface, each of the guide surfaces (86, 82, 84) extending longitudinally between proximal and distal portions of the guide surfaces; a first jaw slidably and pivotally connected to the housing, the first jaw having proximal and distal ends (64, 60), the first jaw slidably received within the internal passageway for longitudinal movement along the jaw guide surface; a second jaw slidably and pivotally connected to the housing, the second jaw having proximal and distal ends (66, 62), the second jaw slidably received within the internal passageway for longitudinal movement along the jaw guide surface; a first link having first and second ends (74, 76), the first end fixedly attached to the first jaw, the second end slidably and pivotally attached to the housing for longitudinal movement along the first link guide surface; a second link having first and second ends (74, 76), the first end fixedly attached to the second jaw, the second end slidably and pivotally attached to the housing for longitudinal movement along the second link guide surface; a driver operatively connected to the first and second jaws (44, 46), wherein longitudinal movement of the driver moves the first and second jaws (44, 46) longitudinally along the jaw guide surface and moves the second ends of the first and second links (68, 70) along the first and second link guide surfaces (82, 84), and wherein the first and second link guide surfaces (82, 84) each has a proximal portion and a distal portion (83, 85) extending transversely relative to the proximal portion, such that longitudinal movement of the second ends of the first and second links (68, 70) therethrough rotates the first and second jaws (44, 46) relative to the housing; the jaw guide surface is arranged parallel to the jaw plane, the first link guide surface extends along a first link path spaced away from the jaw plane, the second link guide surface extends along a second link path spaced away from the jaw plane, and the proximal portion of each of the first and second link guide surfaces (82, 84) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.