Patent ID: 8512315

Claim:
An in-line surgical instrument having a handle operatively connected to an elongate shaft, the handle comprising: a first handle member; a second handle member pivotably connected to the first handle member near a proximal end of both handle members; and a ratchet mechanism disposed distal relative to the pivotable connection and configured for removably engaging the first and second handle members, the ratchet mechanism comprising first and second ratchet mechanism portions, wherein the first ratchet mechanism portion comprises: an L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member; a cammed lever member; and a camming switch; wherein the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member is mounted pivotably to and projects from the first handle member toward the second handle member, the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member comprising a toothed portion generally perpendicular to a lever-arm projection portion; wherein the camming switch is mounted pivotably to and projects from the first handle member away from the second handle member; wherein the cammed lever member comprises a camming end, a levering end, a pivot axis therebetween connecting the cammed lever member pivotably to the first handle member; and wherein the camming switch contacts the camming end of the cammed lever member and the levering end of the cammed lever member contacts the lever-arm projection of the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member; the camming end comprising a protruding camming surface and a depressed camming surface; and wherein the second ratchet mechanism portion comprises: a pawl member mounted to the second handle member, the pawl member including a pawl tooth portion and a pawl leg portion, wherein the pawl tooth portion projects toward, and is configured to engage with, the toothed portion of the ratchet-toothed engagement member; and wherein, a biasing spring contacting the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member biases said L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member into engagement with the pawl tooth portion when the camming switch is oriented at a neutral position between a first angle and a second angle; and wherein, the camming switch and the camming end of the cammed lever member are configured such that when the camming switch is disposed at the first angle relative to the cammed lever member, a first operative contact between the camming switch and the protruding camming surface of the cammed lever member levers the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member out of its biased engagement with the pawl tooth portion of the pawl member; and wherein, the camming switch and the camming end of the cammed lever member are also configured such that when the camming switch is disposed at the second angle relative to the cammed lever member, a second operative contact between the camming switch and the depressed camming surface of the cammed lever member levers the L-shaped ratchet-toothed engagement member out of its biased engagement with the pawl tooth portion of the pawl member.