Patent ID: 8021366

Claim:
A system, comprising: a handle having a lever pivotably connected thereto; a hollow shaft slidably attached to the handle; a rod operably connected on a proximal end to the lever and movable axially inside the shaft; a surgical implement connected to a distal end of the rod and pivotably connected to a distal end of the shaft; a biasing mechanism adapted to be compressed within a cavity in the handle by an axial load in excess of a predetermined axial load; and a compression collar fixedly attached near a proximal end of the shaft and movable in a distal direction by pivoting the lever to compress the biasing mechanism within the handle cavity, wherein when pivoting of the surgical implement is restricted and the excessive axial load is placed on the rod, the rod and the surgical implement move the shaft in the distal direction so as to compress the biasing mechanism, thereby relieving the rod and surgical implement of the excessive axial load.