Thumb-activated actuating member for endoscopic surgical instrument

摘要

An actuator 50 for a laparoscopic surgical instrument (10) imparts reciprocal motion to a push rod 60 surrounded by a hollow tube (15). The actuator includes a plastic housing 914 which fixedly engages the hollow tube, and a lever 420 which fixedly engages the push rod and pivotally engages the housing. The housing also preferably includes an integral handle 410. When the handle and lever are manipulated by the user such as by pivotal movement of the lever, reciprocal motion is imparted to the push rod relative to the hollow tube. The lever also includes an external unevenly surfaced portion 410 which when frictionally engaged by a digit of a human hand will impart pivotal motion to the lever, and hence reciprocal motion to the push rod.