CARTRIDGE FOR RECEIVING CLIPS

• US 20020017472A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesculap AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Aesculap AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Weisshaupt, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 6,460,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/339
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1222 Packages or dispensers therefor clip magazines incorporated in a clip-applying instrument A61B17/128; for surgical articles A61B50/30

Abstract

In order to reliably configure the positioning of the clip in the cartridge in any phase, even during removal, in the case of a cartridge for receiving U-shaped clips having a web and two arms projecting therefrom, with a support abutting the underside of the web and with clamping members, which abut the web laterally at least on one side and are elastically removable from this web transversely to the plane of the clip, it is proposed that additional clamping members are provided, which abut the arms laterally at least on one side and are elastically removable from these arms transversely to the plane of the clip, and which are pressed elastically against the arms independently of the clamping members abutting the web.

Claims

1. Cartridge for receiving U-shaped clips (1) having a web (2) and two arms (3) projecting therefrom, with a support (13) abutting the underside of the web (2) and with clamping members, which abut the web (2) laterally at least on one side and are elastically removable from this web (2) transversely to the plane of the clip (2), characterised in that additional clamping members (22, 24) are provided, which abut the arms (3) laterally at least on one side and are elastically removable from these arms (3) transversely to the plane of the clip (1), and which are pressed elastically against the arms (3) independently of the clamping members (21, 23) abutting the web (2).

2. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the cartridge has clamping members (21, 22, 23, 24), which are elastically removable from the arms on only one side of the clip, and a fixed contact surface for the clip (1) on the opposite side.

3. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that clamping members (21, 22, 23, 24), which abut the clip and are removable therefrom, are provided on both sides of the clip, said clamping members holding the parts of the clip (1) between them in pairs.

4. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamping members have spring arms (21, 22), which at their free end bear pressure surfaces (23 or 24) which may be laid against the web (2) or the arms (3).

5. Cartridge according to claim 4, characterised in that the pressure surfaces (23, 24) protrude in the shape of a ball.

6. Cartridge according to claim 4, characterised in that a respective pressure surface (23) elastically abuts the web (2) at its two end regions.

7. Cartridge according to claim 6, characterised in that the two pressure surfaces (23) are disposed on a web which is supported by two spring arms which maintain a distance between them.

8. Cartridge according to claim 7, characterised in that the additional clamping members (22, 24) are disposed in the interstice between the spring arms.

9. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamping members (21, 22) abutting the web (2) or the arms (3) are located in a plane running parallel to the plane of the clip.

10. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that it has a U-shaped base body (8) with a web (9) and two legs (10) projecting from these, that the support (13) penetrating between the legs (10) is disposed on the web (9), and that the clamping members (21, 23;

22, 24) are disposed between the legs (10) and the support (13).

11. Cartridge according to claim 10, characterised in that the clamping members (21, 22) are in the form of plates and lie close together, so that they form a multiple-part side wall (16) for the interstice (15) between the legs (10) and the support (13).

12. Cartridge according to claim 10, characterised in that the legs (10) are connected to one another at their free ends by parallel webs (11), which between them form an insertion opening (12) for a clip (1) and for an application tool (4).

13. Cartridge according to claim 10, characterised in that the base body (8), the support (13), the clamping members (21, 23;

22, 24) and possibly the webs (11) connecting the legs (10) of the base body (8) are made of plastic in one piece.

14. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that several cartridges (7) of the same type are arranged one above the other and joined to one another in the manner of a stack.

15. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that several cartridges (7) of the same type are arranged next to one another in one plane.

16. Cartridge according to claim 15, characterised in that the cartridges (7) are arranged parallel to one another in the form of a strip.

17. Cartridge according to claim 15, characterised in that the cartridges (7) are arranged on the outer edge of a disc (28) and that their insertion openings (12) are directed away from one another.