Patent ID: 8444642

Claim:
A surgical device, comprising: a first handle member; an elongate bottom jaw piece coupled to the first handle member; a second handle member pivotably connected to the first handle member; a mid-jaw piece pivotably connected to the bottom jaw piece and coupled to the second handle member such that movement of the second handle member drives the mid-jaw piece between jaw-opening and jaw-closing movements; a slide piece positioned and arranged for sliding movement within a channel of the mid-jaw piece; a resilient elastic member arranged between the slide member and the channel, the resilient elastic member being adapted to bias the slide piece forwardly; and a top jaw piece pivotably connected to the mid-jaw piece, the top jaw piece including a slot constructed and arranged to receive the slide piece, such that when the slide piece is engaged in the slot, the top jaw piece maintains a specified angular orientation with respect to the mid jaw piece, the specified angular orientation being such that the top jaw piece and the bottom jaw piece are substantially parallel to one another at a specified vertical distance apart.