Patent ID: 7063699

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: a) a handle having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, said proximal end of said shaft mounted to the distal end of said handle; c) an exterior closing tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, said closing tube slidably mounted coaxially to said shaft; d) a lower jaw extending distally from the distal end of the closing tube, said lower jaw having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, said proximal end of said lower jaw attached to said distal end of said shaft; e) a clamping element opposing said lower jaw, said clamping element substantially proximate to said lower jaw and biased away from said lower jaw, wherein said closing tube is at least slidably disposed over said clamping element, wherein said closing tube is movable relative to said lower jaw and said clamping element between an open and a closed position to open and close the clamping element relative to the lower jaw; and f) an actuator mounted to said handle for moving said closing tube between said open and closed positions, wherein the proximal end of said closing tube is attached to said actuator.