Patent ID: 8568442

Claim:
A medical gripping and/or cutting instrument having a shaft on whose distal end is a tool comprising at least two jaw members and on whose proximal end is a handle comprising at least two gripping members, wherein for opening and closing, one of the gripping members is rotatably configured such that at least one jaw member of the tool can move with respect to the other jaw member of the tool, wherein the at least one movable jaw member and the rotatable gripping member are actively connected with one another via a push-pull rod, wherein the instrument comprises a notching mechanism and wherein the rotatable gripping member of the handle can be secured to at least one other of the at least two gripping members of the handle by the notching mechanism, with the jaw members in an at least partly closed position, wherein one gripping member of the handle consists of two portions, namely a rigid portion and a movable portion, wherein the movable portion and the rigid portion of said one gripping member are positioned on one another by linked undercuttings on the rigid portion and the movable portion of said one gripping member that connect together so that, with one hand only, the movable portion can be held and moved in the longitudinal direction of said one gripping member with respect to the rigid portion of said one gripping member in such a way that the notching mechanism can be released without essentially changing the position of the at least two gripping members to one another; wherein the notching mechanism comprises a guide pin and a notching hook rotatably positioned on the rigid portion of said one gripping member such that it can pivot and interact with the movable portion of said one gripping member via the guide pin, wherein the notching mechanism further comprises a notching recess on another of the at least two gripping members such that the notching hook can be secured in the notching recess; wherein the guide pin engages in a guide pocket in the movable portion of said one gripping member; and wherein a free end of the guide pin is positioned in the guide pocket and has a gliding element, in particular a roller.