Patent ID: 7318832

Claim:
A surgical tool comprising a longitudinally extending support means defining a longitudinal axis of said tool, an elongate center member having a first jaw member at a distal end thereof, a longitudinally extending actuating means rotatable about said longitudinal axis, a second jaw member pivotably mounted to a distal end of said support means, and operating means for said second jaw member including rearwardly facing cam follower means, wherein a distal end of the actuating means is adapted to bear on said cam follower means, and is so configured that rotation of said actuating means causes pivoting of said second jaw member into and out of operative relationship with said first jaw member, and wherein the rearwardly facing cam follower means comprises two protrusions extending from substantially diametrically opposed points of the operating means and so disposed that action of a lobe at the distal end of the actuating means on one of said protrusions acts to pivot the second jaw member into operative relationship with the first jaw member, and action of a lobe on a second of said protrusions acts to pivot the jaw means away from said operative relationship.