Surgical clip applier with integrated clip counter

• US 10,349,936 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rockrohr, Brian, Malkowski, Jaroslaw T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Kathleen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Simpson, Sarah A
• Application Number:
  US15/155,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20160256157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A surgical clip applier is provided including a channel assembly and overlying a clip carrier having a clip counter plate slidably supported in the channel assembly, wherein the clip counter plate is configured and adapted to display a change in status of the clip applier upon actuation of the handle.

Claims

1. A surgical clip applier, comprising:

a handle assembly;

a channel assembly operatively coupled to the handle assembly;

a clip counter plate slidably supported in the channel assembly, the clip counter plate including a plurality of discrete indicia formed on a first surface and a plurality of recesses formed in a second surface thereof, wherein the clip counter plate is configured and adapted to display a change in a status of the clip applier upon actuation of the handle assembly; and

a walking beam disposed within the channel assembly and operatively coupled to the handle assembly, the walking beam including a tab dimensioned to selectively engage the plurality of recesses formed in the second surface of the clip counter plate, wherein upon actuation of the handle assembly, the walking beam is translated in a first direction, such that the tab of the walking beam engages the clip counter plate to translate the clip counter plate in the first direction, wherein upon translation of the clip counter plate in the first direction, one discrete indicia of the plurality of discrete indicia is discernible to display the change in the status of the clip applier.

2. The clip applier according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing;

a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel; and

a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier.

3. The clip applier according to claim 2, wherein each discrete indicia of the plurality of discrete indicia relates to a corresponding quantity of clips of the plurality of clips contained in the clip applier.

4. The clip applier according to claim 2, further comprising a clip pusher bar reciprocally positioned within at least one of the housing or the channel assembly, the clip pusher bar having a first end operatively connected to the handle assembly and a second end defining a pusher, the clip pusher bar being movable away from a pair of jaws as the handle assembly is actuated by an initial amount in order move the pusher behind a distal-most clip of the plurality of clips stored in the channel of the clip carrier, the clip pusher bar being configured and adapted to move towards the pair of jaws as the handle assembly is returned to a home position to move the distal-most clip between the pair of jaws.

5. The clip applier according to claim 4, further comprising a clip follower slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier and disposed proximally of the plurality of clips, the clip follower configured for selective engagement with the clip carrier and the walking beam, wherein the clip follower is configured to urge the plurality of clips in a second direction relative to the clip carrier, upon reciprocal movement of the walking beam, wherein the second direction is a distal direction.

6. The clip applier according to claim 5, wherein the walking beam includes a plurality of distally oriented ramps extending into the channel of the clip carrier, and wherein the distally oriented ramps of the walking beam are configured to selectively engage an aperture defined in the clip follower and urge the clip follower in the distal direction upon movement of the walking beam in the distal direction.

7. The clip applier according to claim 6, wherein the clip carrier defines a plurality of distally oriented ramps, wherein the plurality of distally oriented ramps of the clip carrier are configured to selectively engage the aperture defined in the clip follower to stop movement of the clip follower in the first direction upon movement of the walking beam in the first direction, wherein the first direction is a proximal direction.

8. The clip applier according to claim 7, further comprising a drive linkage system configured to move the clip pusher bar in the proximal direction upon actuation of the handle assembly, and configured to move the clip pusher bar in the distal direction upon a subsequent release of the handle assembly.

9. The clip applier according to claim 7, wherein the clip carrier includes a resilient finger configured to engage a plurality of notches formed in the first surface of the clip counter plate, wherein as the walking beam is moved in the distal direction due to the movement of the clip pusher bar in the distal direction, the resilient finger of the clip carrier engages one of the plurality of notches formed in the first surface of the clip counter plate to maintain an axial position of the clip counter plate.

10. The clip applier according to claim 5, wherein the clip follower functions as a lockout when the clip follower is advanced by the walking beam to a position between the pair of jaws.

11. The clip applier according to claim 10, wherein when the clip follower is positioned between the pair of jaws and prevents the pair of jaws from completely closing, thereby preventing the clip applier from completing a full closing stroke.

12. The clip applier according to claim 4, wherein the clip pusher bar is connected to the walking beam, and wherein axial translation of the clip pusher bar results in concomitant axial translation of the walking beam.

13. The clip applier according to claim 12, wherein the clip pusher bar and the walking beam are configured and connected to one another such that a delay is provided between the axial translation of the clip pusher bar and the axial translation of the walking beam.

14. The clip applier according to claim 2, further comprising a jaw assembly including a pair of jaws extending from an end of the channel assembly, the jaw assembly adapted to accommodate a clip of the plurality of clips therein, the jaw assembly being operable to effect formation of the clip in response to actuation of the handle assembly.

15. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein the one discrete indicia of the plurality of discrete indicia that is discernible to display the change in the status of the clip applier is visible through the channel assembly.

16. A surgical clip applier, comprising:

a handle assembly;

a channel assembly operatively coupled to the handle assembly;

a clip counter plate slidably supported in the channel assembly, the clip counter plate including a plurality of notches formed in a first surface and a plurality of recesses formed in a second surface thereof, wherein the clip counter plate is configured and adapted to display discernible indicia corresponding to a change in a status of the clip applier upon actuation of the handle assembly, wherein the clip counter plate includes a plurality of discrete indicia, wherein upon translation of the clip counter plate in the first direction, one discrete indicia of the plurality of discrete indicia is discernible to display the change in the status of the clip applier;

a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel, the clip carrier including a resilient finger configured to selectively engage the plurality of notches formed in the first surface of the clip counter plate; and

a walking beam disposed within the channel assembly and being operatively coupled to the handle assembly, the walking beam including a tab dimensioned to selectively engage the plurality of recesses formed in the second surface of the clip counter plate, wherein when the walking beam is translated in a first direction, the tab of the walking beam engages one of the plurality of recesses formed in the second surface of the clip counter plate to translate the clip counter plate in the first direction, and wherein when the walking beam is translated in a second direction, the resilient finger of the clip carrier engages one of the plurality of notches formed in the first surface of the clip counter plate to maintain an axial position of the clip counter plate.

17. The clip applier according to claim 16, wherein the first direction is a proximal direction and the second direction is a distal direction.

18. The clip applier according to claim 16, further comprising a clip pusher bar reciprocally positioned between the clip counter plate and the walking beam, the clip pusher bar including a window formed therein, wherein the tab of the walking beam extends through the window of the clip pusher bar to engage the plurality of recesses formed in the second surface of the clip counter plate.