Patent ID: 8568443

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing; an actuation rod extending through the housing; a first jaw member, the first jaw member including a first positioning slot, the first positioning slot including a linear portion and a radial portion; a first actuation link having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first actuation link coupled with the actuation rod; a first pivot link having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the pivot link coupled with the distal end of the first actuation link, the distal end of the first pivot link coupled with the first jaw member; a second jaw member, the second jaw member including a second positioning slot, the second positioning slot including a linear portion and a radial portion; a second actuation link have a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second actuation link coupled with the actuation rod; a second pivot link having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second pivot link coupled with the distal end of the second actuation link, the distal end of the second pivot link coupled with the second jaw member; wherein the proximal end of the first pivot link and the distal end of the first actuation link are slidably engaged within the first positioning slot; and wherein the proximal end of the second pivot link and the distal end of the second actuation link are slidably engaged within the second positioning slot.