Repeating multi-clip applier

• US 20030135224A1
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph W. Blake III
• Original Assignee: Joseph W. Blake III
• Inventors: Blake, Joseph W. III
• Granted Patent: US 6,869,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible

Abstract

An instrument for applying clips in surgery having an operating handle with operating components and a removable clip cartridge with clip applying mechanism. The handle operating components generate reciprocal linear motion imparted to the clip applying mechanism and accommodate rotation of the cartridge about a cartridge axis. An anti-backup mechanism constrains operating components to complete first and second strokes of reciprocal linear motion. The clip applying mechanism actuated by received reciprocal motion applies a clip in surgery, isolates the next clip, and prepares for loading the isolated clip into the jaws on a first stroke, and on the second stroke, opens the jaws and pushes the isolated clip into the open jaws.

Claims

1. An operating handle for a cartridge to apply clips in surgery, the operating handle comprising a housing defining an interior chamber for receiving operating components, the handle having actuating means for providing linear movement to the operating components, the operating components comprising:

a. first means for receiving from the actuating means reciprocal linear motion of predetermined excursion,

b. second means connected to said first means for rotation about an axis and for receiving linear motion from the first means, and

c. third means cooperating with the second means for receiving a cartridge and linking the cartridge to the second means to impart reciprocal motion to the cartridge and to accommodate rotary motion of the cartridge about said axis.

2. An operating handle for a cartridge having a clip applying mechanism to apply clips in surgery, the operating handle comprising a pistol grip housing having a trigger, the housing defining an interior chamber for receiving operating components, the trigger mounted on the housing for reciprocal movement, means for urging the trigger to a normal position, the operating components comprising:

a. first means for receiving from the trigger reciprocal linear motion of predetermined excursion defined by first and second strokes,

b. second means connected to said first means for rotation about an axis and for receiving linear motion from the first means,

c. third means in assembly with the second means and cooperating with the second means for receiving a cartridge and for imparting linear motion to the cartridge mechanism and for accommodating of the cartridge about said axis, and

d. anti-backup means constraining the second means to complete the excursion of one of said first and second strokes before beginning the other of said first and second strokes.

3. An operating handle for a cartridge to apply clips in surgery, the operating handle comprising a pistol grip housing having a trigger, the housing defining an interior chamber for receiving operating components, the trigger mounted on the housing for reciprocal movement, means for urging the trigger to a normal position, the operating components comprising:

a. first means for receiving from the trigger reciprocal inear motion of predetermined excursion defined by first and second strokes,

b. second means connected to said first means for rotation about an axis and for receiving linear motion from the first means,

c. anti-backup means constraining the second means to complete the excursion of one of said first and second strokes before beginning the other of said first and second strokes, and

d. means in subassembly with the second means for mounting a cartridge to the operating handle whereby the operating components provide linear reciprocating motion of predetermined excursion to the cartridge and accommodate rotation of the cartridge about said axis.

4. An operating handle for a cartridge to apply clips in surgery, the operating handle comprising a pistol grip housing having a trigger, the housing defining an interior chamber for receiving operating components arranged along a longitudinal axis, the trigger mounted on the housing for reciprocal movement, means for urging the trigger to a normal position, the operating components comprising:

a. a fixed translator slidably mounted in the housing for reciprocal linear motion of predetermined excursion defined by first and second strokes, the fixed translator linked to the trigger for movement through said excursion,

b. a rotary translator connected to the fixed translator for rotation about said axis and for receiving linear motion from the fixed translator, the rotary translator having first and second means spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to said excursion,

c. anti-backup means cooperating with the rotary translator first and second means for constraining the the rotary translator to complete the excursion of one of said first and second strokes before beginning the other of said first and second strokes, and

d. a rotary drum in subassembly with the rotary translator for releasably mounting a cartridge to the operating handle whereby the operating components provide linear reciprocating motion of predetermined excursion to the cartridge and accommodate rotation of the cartridge about said axis.

5. In a clip applying instrument having a clip applying cartridge and having an operating handle with operating components for generating reciprocal linear motion of fixed excursion defined by forward and reverse strokes along an axis and for imparting said linear motion to said cartridge, the improvement comprising a rotary drum subassembly forming part of the operating components and having:

a. a rotary drum having an interior chamber and mounted with said handle for rotary motion about said axis,

b. a rotary translator assembled with the rotary drum for rotation with the rotary drum and for linear movement with the operating components through the strokes of said fixed excursion,

c. the rotary translator having first and second means defining the limits of the fixed excursion, and

d. an anti-backup mechanism in assembly with the rotary drum and cooperating with the rotary translator first and second means to ensure the forward and reverse strokes of linear excursion of the rotary translator are completed without backup movement of the operating components.

6. An anti-backup mechanism for a device having liner reciprocating motion through forward and reverse strokes, the anti-backup mechanism comprising a drum, a translator assembled with the drum for linear reciprocating movement through said strokes, the translator having first and second means defining the limits of reciprocating motion, and an anti-backup disc mounted on the drum and cooperating with the translator first and second means to ensure the forward and reverse strokes of linear excursion of the translator are completed without backup movement.

7. An operating handle for a clip applying cartridge having a cartridge puller bar with a rear connecting end comprising:

i. a pistol grip housing defining a chamber for receiving operating components and having a trigger for imparting to the operating components linear reciprocating motion of fixed excursion consisting of forward and reverse strokes, and a spring for urging the operating components in a direction of linear motion,

ii. operating components arranged on a longitudinal axis including;

a. a fixed translator for receiving said linear motion from the trigger and the urging of said spring, the fixed translator having a cage for receiving a rotary translator,

b. a rotary translator fitted to said cage for linear motion with the fixed translator and for rotary motion on said longitudinal axis, the rotary translator having an elongate body and an open, front end cage for receiving the rear connecting end of the cartridge puller bar, the rotary translator having spaced grooves on its surface a distance approximately equal to the fixed excursion,

c. an anti-backup in the form of a disc with inwardly directed spring fingers terminating at a central aperture in the disc,

d. a rotary front and rear open-ended drum in subassembly with the rotary translator and anti-backup disc with the rotary translator positioned axially within the rotary drum for linear motion with respect to the rotary drum and with the rotary translator passing through the central aperture of the anti-backup disc, the disc cooperating with the spaced grooves of the rotary translator to provide an anti-backup mechanism in the operating components, the rotary drum open front end for receiving and passing the cartridge puller bar rear connecting end for engagement with the front end cage of the rotary translator,

e. whereby the operating components transmit said linear motion to the clip applying cartridge, constrain said linear motion to complete forward and reverse strokes without backup, and accommodate rotary motion of the clip applying cartridge with respect to longitudinal axis.

8. A clip applying cartridge comprising a housing for receiving a clip applying mechanism, the clip applying mechanism comprising:

a. clip applying jaws secured to the housing for receiving and applying clips,

b. cam means for closing the jaws to apply a clip and for releasing the jaws so the jaws open to receive another clip,

c. puller means providing linear reciprocating movement to clip applying mechanism components, the puller means cooperating with the cam means for closing and opening the jaws,

d. a clip supply magazine containing a line of clips including a first in line clip to be applied by the mechanism, having means for pushing a clip into the jaws, having means for urging the line of clips toward the jaws, having means for retracting the line of clips, and being connected to the puller means to receive linear reciprocating movement, and

e. clip detent means for engaging and moving a first in line clip into position for the clip pusher means to push said clip into the jaws.

9. A clip applying cartridge comprising a housing for receiving a clip applying mechanism, the clip applying mechanism comprising:

a. clip applying jaws secured to the housing for receiving and applying clips,

b. cam means for closing the jaws to apply a clip and for releasing the jaws so the jaws open to receive another clip,

c. puller means providing linear reciprocating movement of first and second strokes to clip applying mechanism components, the puller means cooperating with the cam means for closing and opening the jaws,

d. a clip supply magazine containing a line of clips including a first in line clip to be applied by the mechanism, having a pusher plate for pushing a clip into the jaws, having means for urging the line of clips toward the pusher plate, having a means for engaging and retracting the line of clips except the first in line clip, and being connected to the puller means to receive linear reciprocating movement, and

e. clip detent means for engaging and moving the first in line clip into position for the pusher plate,

whereby a first stroke of the puller means actuates the clip applying mechanism to close the jaws to apply a clip, to engage and retract the line of clips except the first in line clip, to move the first in line clip into position for the pusher plate, and a second stroke of the puller means actuates the clip applying mechanism to open the jaws, to push the first in line clip into the jaws, to advance the line of clips from retracted position, and to capture the next first in line of the advanced line of clips.

10. A clip applying cartridge as defined in claim 9 in which the clip applying jaws are affixed to the housing and have cooperating arms with cooperating jaw heads and cam surfaces engaged by the cam means by which the jaws close and are released for opening.

11. A clip applying cartridge as defined in claim 9 in which the cam means is slidably mounted for reciprocal linear movement in the housing, has cam means for closing and releasing the jaws, is spring biased for normally releasing the jaws, and is linked to the puller means to receive linear reciprocating motion.

12. A clip applying cartridge as defined in claim 11 in which the cam means is linked to the puller means to delay closing of the jaws on the first stroke, and to release the jaws in the course of the second stroke.

13. A clip applying cartridge as defined in claim 9 in which the clip supply magazine is integral with the pusher plate, has is spring loaded clip pusher for urging the line of clips toward the pusher plate, has an integral stop spring for engaging and retracting the line of clips except the first in line clip, and has a pin for connection to the puller means to receive linear reciprocating movement.

14. A clip applying cartridge as defined in claim 9 in which the clip detent means comprises a spring mounted on the housing above the line of clips with spring bias into the path of clip movement, and the clip detent means having spaced depending panels having aligned notches for engaging and capturing a first in line clip.

16. A clip applying instrument as defined in claim 14 in which a flexible shaft interconnects the operating handle and the clip applying cartridge.

15. A clip applying instrument comprising:

A. an operating handle in the form of a pistol grip housing having a trigger, the housing defining an interior chamber for receiving operating components, the trigger mounted on the housing for reciprocal movement, means for urging the trigger to a normal position, the handle operating components including;

i. first means for receiving from the trigger reciprocal linear motion of predetermined excursion defined by first and second strokes,

ii. second means connected to said first means for rotation about an axis and for receiving linear motion from the first means, and

iii. anti-backup means constraining the second means to complete the excursion of one of said first and second strokes before beginning the other of said first and second strokes,

B. a clip applying cartridge in the form of a housing for receiving a clip applying mechanism, the clip applying mechanism including;

i. clip applying jaws secured to the housing for receiving and applying clips,

ii. cam means for closing the jaws to apply a clip and for releasing the jaws so the jaws open to receive another clip,

iii. puller means secured to the handle for providing linear reciprocating movement of first and second strokes to clip applying mechanism components, the puller means cooperating with the cam means for closing and opening the jaws,

iv. a clip supply magazine containing a line of clips including a first in line clip to be applied by the mechanism, having a pusher plate for pushing a clip into the jaws, having means for urging the line of clips toward the pusher plate, having a means for engaging and retracting the line of clips except the first in line clip, and being connected to the puller means to receive linear reciprocating movement, and

v. clip detent means for engaging and moving the first in line clip into position for the pusher plate,

whereby a first stroke of the handle actuates the clip applying mechanism to close the jaws to apply a clip, to engage and retract the line of clips except the first in line clip, to move the first in line clip into position for the pusher plate, and a second stroke of the handle actuates the clip applying mechanism to open the jaws, to push the first in line clip into the jaws, to advance the line of clips from retracted position, and to capture the first in line of the advanced line of clips.