Patent ID: 8496682

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: a handle; a shaft coupled to the handle and extending distally along a longitudinal axis; an end effector positioned at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: a first jaw member defining a first longitudinal slot, wherein the first jaw member comprises a first cam track defining a first cam slot; and a second jaw member defining a second longitudinal slot, wherein the second jaw member is pivotable towards the first jaw member about a jaw pivot point, and wherein the second jaw member comprises a second cam track defining a second cam slot; a reciprocating member translatable distally and proximally parallel to the longitudinal axis through the first longitudinal slot and the second longitudinal slot, wherein a distal portion of the reciprocating member defines a blade; a shuttle translatable distally and proximally parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the reciprocating member defines at least one slot and wherein the shuttle is positioned to translate within the slot distally and proximally relative to the reciprocating member; and at least one cam pin coupled to the shuttle and positioned within the first cam slot and the second cam slot.