Vasectomy instrument

Claim 1

A disposable surgical instrument for performing a vasectomy comprising: an elongate body having a handle at the proximal end thereof and a fixed lower jaw at the distal end thereof; a movable jaw slidably disposed on said body, said movable jaw opposing said fixed jaw of said body; a rod attached to said movable jaw and projecting beyond said handle of said body, said rod utilized for sliding said movable jaw toward said fixed jaw; a replaceable module having a receiver block, said block having a first pair of ligating clip grooves and a planar receiving surface between said first pair of clip grooves, a cutting block having a planar surface opposing said receiving surface and having a second pair of ligating clip grooves aligned with said first pair of clip grooves, a pair of pins attached to said receiver block and extending between said receiver block and said cutting block, said pins frictionally engaging said cutting block, and a pair of open ligating clips disposed in said aligned clip grooves; a pair of spaced apart cutting blades having proximal edges attached to said cutting block and sharpened distal edges extending toward said receiver block, said distal edges spaced from said receiving surface; and said fixed jaw and said movable jaw including holding means for holding said receiver block and said cutter block therebetween whereby movement of said rod toward said fixed jaw moves said cutter block along said pins to a point at which said distal cutter edges contact said receiver block and at which point said open ligating clips are closed.