Clip storage for endoscopic clip applier

• US 20050277956A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kortenbach, Juergen A., Francese, Jose Luis, Rivera, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/867,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• 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: Y10T 29/53478 with magazine supply

Abstract

A flexible endoscopic clip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. The actuator includes a lever for opening and closing the jaws, a knob for rotating the jaw assembly, and a crank for dispensing clips. The knob and the lever are coupled to a single control member which extends through the coil to a joiner where it is joined to a pair of pull wires coupled to the jaws. The crank is coupled to a second control member which is threaded along a distal portion. The threaded portion engages a threaded member near the pusher and is coupled to the pusher such that rotation of the threaded control member by the crank causes the pusher to be moved distally.

Claims

1. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, said control member extending through said flexible tube;

a pair of jaws coupled to said distal end of said tube and said distal end of said control member;

an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said tube and said proximal end of said control member,

a store for clips arranged proximal of said jaws, said store having at least one biased stop arranged to grip a penultimate clip and prevent it from being removed from said store when an ultimate clip is applied and said jaws are moved away from the ultimate clip.

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

a clevis, said clevis being coupled to said distal end of said tube and said jaws being coupled to said clevis,

said store extending proximally from said clevis.

3. The clip applier according to claim 2, wherein:

said clevis has an interior terminating with a distal lip and said store has means for engaging said distal lip.

4. The clip applier according to claim 2, wherein:

said clevis has an interior with two side windows and said store has means for engaging said two side windows.

5. The clip applier according to claim 3, wherein:

said clevis has an interior with two side windows and said store has means for engaging said two side windows.

6. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein:

said store is flexible.

7. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein:

said store maintains clips in alignment.

8. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein:

said control member includes a pair of pull wires, one coupled to each jaw, and

said store includes a plurality of side spacers which define space on two sides of said store between said store and said flexible tube wherein said pull wires reside.

9. A store for maintaining a plurality of clips in an endoscopic clip applier, said store comprising:

at least two spaced apart side walls defining a rectilinear space having a proximal end and a distal end,

at least one finger coupled to said side wlls and extending distally away from said distal end, said finger including means for retaining clips inside said store.

10. The store according to claim 9, wherein:

said finger lies in a plane substantially orthogonal to said side walls.

11. The store according to claim 9, wherein:

said at least one finger includes two spaced apart fingers coupled to said side walls and extending distally away from said distal end, said fingers each including means for retaining clips inside said store.

12. The store according to claim 9, wherein:

said at least two side walls include a first plurality of side walls lying in a first plane and a second plurality of side walls lying in a second plane parallel and spaced apart from said first plane.

13. The store according to claim 12, wherein:

said first plurality of side walls are coupled to each other by a first plurality of narrow strips, one strip between each side wall, and

said second plurality of side walls are coupled to each other by a second plurality of narrow strips, one strip between each side wall.

14. The store according to claim 13, wherein:

at least some of said first plurality of side walls and at least some of said second plurality of side walls have outwardly directed spacers for maintaining the store inside a tube.

15. The store according to claim 11, wherein:

said fingers include structure adapted to engage the interior of a clevis and couple the store to the clevis.

16. A method for storing a plurality of clips in an endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

arranging the clips axially in a rectilinear structure with at least one biased stop arranged to grip a penultimate clip and prevent it from being removed from the store when an ultimate clip is applied.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

maintaining space on opposite sides of the rectilinear structure for a pair of pull wires.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

coupling the rectilinear structure to a clevis.