Patent ID: 6923807

Claim:
A surgical device, comprising a surgical probe having a substantially straight shaft section and a distal end; a helical needle having a distal end, the helical needle being affixed to the probe such that the distal end of the helical needle extends beyond the distal end of the probe; end and a proximal end opposite the distal end of the probe; and driving means, located at the proximal end of the surgical device, for selectively rotating the surgical device in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the driving means including a ratchet assembly having a ratchet gear, a ratchet having a first gear engagement tab for rotating the ratchet gear in the first rotational direction and a second gear engagement tab for rotating the ratchet gear in the second rotational direction, a pawl having a first gear engagement tab for preventing the rotation of the ratchet gear in the second rotational direction and a second gear engagement tab for preventing the rotation of the ratchet gear in the first rotational direction, the pawl being movable independently of the ratchet, a ratchet spring member having a first side piece and a second side piece, the first side piece and the second side piece being substantially parallel, the ratchet gear being positioned at a location intermediate between the first side piece and the second side piece, a reversing lever connected to the ratchet spring member such as to bias the first side panel toward the ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in a first position and bias the second side panel toward the ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in a second position, such that the first side panel acts on the pawl and ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in the first position, thereby engaging the first gear engagement tab of the ratchet with the ratchet gear, and the second side panel acts on the pawl and ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in the second position thereby engaging the second gear engagement tab of the pawl with the ratchet gear and the second gear engagement tab of the ratchet with the ratchet gear, and a movable handle adapted such that the ratchet gear is rotated by movement of said handle.