Surgical instrument for grasping and cutting tissue

Abstract

A surgical instrument for cutting and grasping tissue comprising a handle assembly, an elongated member and first and second jaws. A first movable member moves the second jaw in a first direction about a first pivot axis in a grasping action and a second movable member moves the second jaw in a second direction different than the first direction and about a second pivot axis in a cutting action. A switch is positioned at the proximal portion of the instrument and a selecting member is actuated by movement of the switch, the selecting member movable between a first position to enable movement of the second jaw in the first direction and prohibit movement in the second direction and a second position to enable movement of the second jaw in the second direction and prohibit movement in the first direction.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A handle assembly for a surgical instrument having first and second jaws, the handle assembly comprising a stationary handle, a first actuator, a second actuator and a switch, the first actuator having a first movable finger loop configured to receive a thumb of the user and operably associated with a first movable member to effect movement of at least one of instrument jaws in a grasping action, the second actuator having a second movable finger loop and operably associated with a second movable member to effect movement of at least one of the instrument jaws in a cutting action, the first and second actuators and the switch all operable by a single hand of a user, wherein the switch cannot be activated by the single hand of the user unless the user releases the thumb engagement of the first finger loop. 
     
     
         26 . The handle assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a stationary handle positioned between the first and second actuators and having a third stationary finger loop. 
     
     
         27 . The handle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first actuator is proximal of the stationary handle and movable proximally to open the instrument jaws and the second actuator is positioned distally of the stationary handle and movable distally to open the instrument jaws. 
     
     
         28 . A surgical method of grasping and cutting tissue with a single instrument comprising:
 providing an instrument having first and second jaws movable in a first orientation to perform a grasping function and movable in a second orientation to perform a cutting function;   moving a first actuator of the instrument to move the jaws in the first orientation between closed and open positions to grasp tissue;   moving a second actuator of the instrument to move the jaws in a second orientation between closed and open positions to cut tissue; and   moving a switching mechanism between first and second positions to select the grasping or cutting function, wherein the switching mechanism can only be moved when the jaws are in the closed position.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of moving the switching mechanism to a second position moves a first locking member into engagement with an advancing mechanism for moving the jaws in the first orientation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of moving the switching mechanism to the second position moves a second locking member into engagement with an advancing mechanism for moving the jaws in the second orientation.