Patent ID: 8585735

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a portion of said handle having a handle cavity said cavity terminating at a mouth at said distal end; a carriage, said carriage slidably received by said handle cavity at said mouth, a guide tube, said guide tube attached to and extending axially from said carriage whereby said tube extends outside said handle; first and second flexible segments, said segments positioned in a substantially parallel, axially extending relationship, each said segment positioned within and extending from said guide tube, each said segment having a first end and a second end, each said first end attached to said handle, each said second end having a tool portion formed thereat, at least a portion of each said first and second steel segments biased to be spaced apart one from the other; means for moving said carriage axially to extend from and retract into said mouth, said moving means comprising at least one handle leaf segment, each said handle leaf segment having a proximal end and a distal end, each said leaf segment proximal end attached to said handle at a site proximate said handle proximal end, whereby each said leaf segment may be flexed at said attachment site with respect to said handle; at least one carriage link, each said carriage link having a first and second end, each said link having a living hinge formed intermediate said first and second ends, each said leaf segment having a first carriage link end attached to said leaf segment proximate said leaf segment distal end, each said carriage link second end attached to said carriage, whereby said carriage and, thereby said tube, is moved axially responsive to the flexing of said leaf segments and, whereby, said tube contacts said flexible segments to force said segments together to operate said tool portion.