System and method for actuating a laparoscopic surgical instrument

摘要

A surgical instrument can include tips and an actuation rod having a pin and slot design where the driving slots are moved from the tips to the actuation rod in one aspect of the invention. As a result, the back end of each blade or tip can be dramatically reduced in area so that during full deflection, very little or no part of the blade or tip extends beyond the outside diameter of the shaft. In addition, the depth of each slot can be varied such that during actuation, increased tension can be put on the blades or tips throughout the cut.