Patent ID: 8337398

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: an operating element; a work element detachably coupled to said operating element; said operating element having a base body and at least two adjoining gripping shells, each of said gripping shells being connected to said base body by a connecting element; a locking mechanism to lock and unlock the gripping shells; said locking mechanism being comprised of one of said gripping shells having an interlock arm pivotally mounted with a retainer having a cam surface; a spring biasing said interlock arm towards a position substantially perpendicular to said first gripping shell; an opposing gripping shell having a locking pin; said interlock arm, cam surface and locking pin being dimensioned to engage in a lock position with a gap being retained between said gripping shells, whereupon squeezing said gripping shells to close said gap is operative to release said pin from said retainer arm, thereby allowing relief from said lock position and spreading of said gripping shells; and said locking mechanism being comprised of a generally triangular surface having a first substantially straight surface configured to bias said cam surface and said pin towards a locking position, a second curvilinear surface configured to retain said cam surface and pin in a locked position and a third curvilinear surface configured to bias said cam surface and locking pin assembly towards a released position.