Patent ID: 8721670

Claim:
A laparoscopic scissor instrument comprising: an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tube comprising a pair of apertures through the tube at the distal end; a scissor assembly positioned at the distal end of the elongate tube, the scissor assembly comprising: a first scissor blade pivotally coupled to the distal end of the elongate tube at the pair of apertures, the first scissor blade comprising a distal cutting portion and a proximal actuation portion; and a second scissor blade pivotally coupled to the distal end of the elongate tube at the pair of apertures, the second scissor blade comprising a distal cutting portion and a proximal actuation portion; and an actuator axially slidable in the elongate tube, the actuator comprising: an actuation shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a first flanking plate coupled to the distal end of the actuation shaft; and a second flanking plate coupled to the distal end of the actuation shaft, the first and second flanking plates positioned between the actuation portions of the first and second scissor blades and operatively engaging the actuation portions of the first and second scissor blades, the first and second flanking plates spaced apart from one another by a void therebetween, and the first and second flanking plates generating spring force therebetween to bias the actuation portions of the first and second scissor blades radially outward.