Clip applicator

• US 10,182,824 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Monti, Matthew, Miller, Kenneth Lance, Resig, Philip P., Privitera, Salvatore, Glithero, Jason Iain, Harp, Adam, Hughett, Sr., James David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Son
• Application Number:
  US14/138,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/305 Details of wrist mechanisms at distal ends of robotic arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44256 with specifically shaped, nongripping, rigid structure for connecting independently operable clasps, clips, or support-clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An occlusion assembly comprising: (a) a tissue occlusion device comprising a first linear clamping portion and a second linear clamping portion, the first and second linear clamping portions oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a clamped position, the tissue occlusion device further including a spring concurrently coupled to and interposed by the first and second linear clamping portions to bias the first and second linear clamping portions toward the clamped position; and, (b) an endoscopic rein coupled to the tissue occlusion device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward an occlusion position where the first and second linear clamping portions are interposed by tissue, where the endoscopic rein includes a flexible wire coupled to the clamping device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward the occlusion position.

Claims

1. An occlusion assembly comprising:

a tissue occlusion device comprising a first linear clamping portion and a second linear clamping portion, the first and second linear clamping portions oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a clamped position, the tissue occlusion device including a spring mounted to the first and second linear clamping portions to bias the first and second linear clamping portions toward the clamped position, the tissue occlusion device further including a fabric tube around the first and second linear clamping portions and the spring; and

,

a first endoscopic rein coupled the first linear clamping portion at opposing longitudinal locations thereof, at least one of the opposing longitudinal locations of the first linear clamping portion being proximate the spring, and a second endoscopic rein coupled to the second linear clamping portion at opposing longitudinal locations thereof, at least one of the opposing longitudinal locations of the second linear clamping portion being proximate the spring, the first and second endoscopic reins configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device to allow tissue to interpose the first and second linear clamping portions.

2. The occlusion assembly of claim 1, wherein the first endoscopic rein includes a rigid chassis coupled to the tissue occlusion device via a flexible wire.

3. The occlusion assembly of claim 2, wherein:

the rigid chassis comprises a first retainer bar and a second retainer bar;

the first retainer bar is oriented to overlap and be parallel to the first linear clamping portion; and

,

the second retainer bar is oriented to overlap and be parallel to the second linear clamping portion.

4. The occlusion assembly of claim 3, wherein the flexible wire comprises suture.

5. The occlusion assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first linear clamping portion is hollowed to receive a first portion of the spring;

the second linear clamping portion is hollowed to receive a second portion of the spring; and

,

the first portion of the spring and the second portion of the spring are interconnected via a U-shaped segment of the spring.

6. An occlusion system comprising:

a tissue occlusion clamp comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, the first and second clamping portions oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a clamped position, the tissue occlusion clamp including a spring mounted to the first and second clamping portions to bias the first and second clamping portions toward the clamped position, the tissue occlusion device further including a fabric tube around the first and second linear clamping portions and the spring; and

,

a first endoscopic removable connector coupled to the first clamping portion at opposing longitudinal locations thereof, at least one of the opposing longitudinal locations of the first clamping portion being proximate the spring, and a second endoscopic removable connector coupled to the second clamping portion at opposing longitudinal locations thereof, at least one of the opposing longitudinal locations of the second clamping portion being proximate the spring, the first and second endoscopic removable connectors configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion clamp to allow tissue to interpose the first and second clamping portions.

7. The occlusion system of claim 6, wherein the first endoscopic removable connector includes a rigid chassis coupled to the tissue occlusion device via a flexible wire.

8. The occlusion system of claim 7, wherein:

the rigid chassis comprises a first retainer bar;

the first retainer bar is oriented to overlap and be parallel to the first linear clamping portion.

9. The occlusion system of claim 7, wherein the flexible wire comprises suture.

10. The occlusion system of claim 6, wherein:

the first clamping portion is hollowed to receive a first portion of the spring;

the second clamping portion is hollowed to receive a second portion of the spring; and

,

the first portion of the spring and the second portion of the spring are interconnected via a U-shaped segment of the spring.

11. An occlusion combination comprising:

a tissue occlusion clip comprising a first beam and a second beam, the first and second beams oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a compressed position, the tissue occlusion clip including a spring mounted to the first and second beams to bias the first and second beams toward the compressed position, the tissue occlusion clip having at least one open end, the tissue occlusion clip further including a fabric tube around the first and second beams and the spring; and

,

an endoscopic grasper operatively coupled to a line repositionably coupled to the tissue occlusion clip proximate the spring, the endoscopic grasper configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion clip toward an occlusion position where the first and second beams are interposed by tissue, wherein;

the first beam is hollowed to receive a first portion of the spring;

the second beam is hollowed to receive a second portion of the spring; and

,

the first portion of the spring and the second portion of the spring are interconnected via a U-shaped segment of the spring;

wherein the endoscopic grasper includes a rigid chassis coupled to the tissue occlusion device via the line;

wherein the rigid chassis comprises a first retainer bar and a second retainer bar;

the first retainer bar is oriented to overlap and be parallel to the first beam; and

, the second retainer bar is oriented to overlap and be parallel to the second beam.

12. The occlusion combination of claim 11, wherein the line comprises suture.