SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER

• US 20100137886A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Padros, Roberto, Slisz, Kevin Robert, Whitfield, Kenneth H., Sorrentino, Gregory, Zergiebel, Earl M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• 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 housing; a pair of handles; a channel assembly extending from the housing; a clip carrier disposed within said channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows; a wedge plate slidably disposed within said channel assembly and being operatively connected to said handles, said wedge plate including a plurality of apertures formed along a length thereof; a plurality of clips slidably disposed within said channel of said clip carrier; and a clip follower slidably disposed within said channel of said clip carrier at a location proximal of said plurality of clips. The clip follower is configured and adapted for selective engagement with said windows of said clip carrier and said apertures of said wedge plate to distally urge said plurality of clips relative to said clip carrier upon a distal advancement of said wedge plate.

Claims

1. A surgical clip applier, comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotably connected to opposite sides of the housing;

a channel assembly fixed to and extending from the housing;

a clip carrier disposed within said channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows;

a wedge plate slidably disposed within said channel assembly, said wedge plate being operatively connected to said handles and including a plurality of apertures formed along a length thereof;

a plurality of clips slidably disposed within said channel of said clip carrier; and

a clip follower slidably disposed within said channel of said clip carrier at a location proximal of said plurality of clips, said clip follower being configured and adapted for selective engagement with said windows of said clip carrier and said apertures of said wedge plate, wherein said clip follower is configured and adapted to distally urge said plurality of clips relative to said clip carrier upon a distal advancement of said wedge plate.

2. The clip applier according to claim 1, further comprising a jaw assembly including a pair of jaws extending from an end of said channel assembly, opposite said housing, said jaw assembly adapted to accommodate a clip therein and being operable to effect closure of a clip in response to movement of said handles.

3. The clip applier according to claim 2, further comprising a clip pusher bar slidably positioned within at least one of said housing and said channel assembly, said pusher bar having a first end operatively connected to at least one of said handles and a second end defining a pusher terminating proximate said pair of jaws, said pusher bar being moved towards said jaws as said handles are approximated in a first direction an initial amount to move said distal-most clip between said jaws, and said pusher bar being configured and adapted to move towards said housing as said handles are approximated an additional amount in said first direction to move said pusher behind a distal-most clip in said plurality of clips.

4. The clip applier according to claim 3, further comprising a drive channel slidably disposed within at least one of said housing and said channel assembly, said drive channel having a first end operatively connected to at least one of said handles and a second end configured and dimensioned to selectively engage said pair of jaws to effectuate closure of said pair of jaws, said drive channel being moved towards said jaw assembly as said handles are moved in said first direction to move said distal end thereof against said jaws to close said jaws, said drive channel being moved away from said jaws as said handles are moved in a second direction to move said distal end thereof away from said jaws to allow said jaws to open.

5. The clip applier according to claim 4, further comprising a pivot arm operatively connected to said wedge plate and selectively engageable by said drive channel, wherein rotation of said pivot arm, during distal movement of said drive channel, results in proximal movement of said wedge plate.

6. The clip applier according to claim 4, further comprising a pusher bar cam pivotably supported on the drive channel and movable therewith, said pusher bar cam extending through a slot formed in said wedge plate and into a window formed in said pusher bar, wherein as said drive channel is moved distally said pusher bar cam moves said pusher bar distally.

7. The clip applier according to claim 6, wherein during distal movement of said drive channel, said pusher bar cam is rotated relative thereto such that said pusher bar cam disengages from said window of said pusher bar allowing said pusher bar to move proximally.

8. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein said wedge plate is biased to a distal position.

9. The clip applier according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said pusher bar and said drive channel is biased to a proximal position.

10. The clip applier according to claim 4, further comprising a ratchet mechanism including:

a rack, having a plurality of ratchet teeth, associated with said drive channel; and

a pawl, having at least one tooth, disposed at a location to selectively engage said rack, wherein said pawl is biased into engagement with said rack, wherein as said drive channel is longitudinally reciprocated, said plurality of teeth are passed over said pawl, and wherein said pawl prevents inadvertent return of said drive channel before full actuation of said handles.

11. The clip applier according to claim 1, further comprising a lockout disposed in a distal end of said channel assembly, wherein said lockout is actuated by said clip follower when a last clip is expelled from said clip applier.

12. The clip applier according to claim 11, wherein said lockout is urged by said clip follower to extend across a path of said drive channel, thereby preventing said drive channel from moving distally.

13. The clip applier according to claim 4, further comprising a drive pin operatively received in a pivot point formed in said drive channel to transmit axial forces to said drive channel during movement of said handles, wherein said pivot point is separated from an elongate slot by at least one lip.

14. The clip applier according to claim 1, further comprising a shipping wedge selectively attachable to said housing and being configured and adapted to engage each of said handles.

15. The clip applier according to claim 1, further comprising a counter mechanism supported in at least one of said housing and said channel assembly, wherein said counter mechanism is configured and adapted to display a change in said clip applier upon each actuation of said handles.

16. The clip applier according to claim 4, wherein said drive channel is configured and dimensioned to at least partially surround said jaws and said wedge plate, wherein said drive channel includes a strap extending across a distal end thereof for maintaining said jaws and said wedge plate within said drive channel.

17. A surgical clip applier, comprising:

a housing;

a pair of handles pivotably connected to opposite sides of the housing;

a channel assembly fixed to and extending from the housing;

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

a drive channel slidably disposed within at least one of said housing and said channel assembly, said drive channel having a first end operatively connected to at least one of said handles and a second end configured and dimensioned to selectively engage a pair of jaws to effectuate closure of said pair of jaws;

a plurality of clips slidably disposed within said channel of said clip carrier;

a clip follower slidably disposed within said channel of said clip carrier at a location proximal of said plurality of clips; and

a lockout disposed in a distal end of said channel assembly, wherein said lockout is actuated by said clip follower when a last clip is expelled from said clip applier, wherein said lockout is urged by said clip follower to extend across a path of said drive channel, thereby preventing said drive channel from moving distally.

18. The clip applier according to claim 17, further comprising a wedge plate slidably disposed within said channel assembly, said wedge plate being operatively connected to said handles and including a plurality of apertures formed along a length thereof;

wherein said clip carrier defines a plurality of windows; and

wherein said clip follower is configured and adapted for selective engagement with said windows of said clip carrier and said apertures of said wedge plate, wherein said clip follower is configured and adapted to distally urge said plurality of clips relative to said clip carrier upon a distal advancement of said wedge plate.

19. The clip applier according to claim 18, further comprising a jaw assembly including a pair of jaws extending from an end of said channel assembly, opposite said housing, said jaw assembly being adapted to accommodate a clip therein and being operable to effect closure of a clip in response to movement of said handles.

20. The clip applier according to claim 19, further comprising a clip pusher bar slidably positioned within at least one of said housing and said channel assembly, said pusher bar having a first end operatively connected to at least one of said handles and a second end defining a pusher terminating proximate said pair of jaws, said pusher bar being moved towards said jaws as said handles are approximated in a first direction an initial amount to move said distal-most clip between said jaws, and said pusher bar being configured and adapted to move towards said housing as said handles are approximated an additional amount in said first direction to move said pusher behind a distal-most clip in said plurality of clips.

21. The clip applier according to claim 20, further comprising a pusher bar cam pivotably supported on the drive channel and movable therewith, said pusher bar cam extending through a slot formed in said wedge plate and into a window formed in said pusher bar, wherein as said drive channel is moved distally said pusher bar cam moves said pusher bar distally.

22. The clip applier according to claim 21, wherein during distal movement of said drive channel, said pusher bar cam is rotated relative thereto such that said pusher bar cam disengages from said window of said pusher bar allowing said pusher bar to move proximally.

23. The clip applier according to claim 18, further comprising a pivot arm operatively connected to said wedge plate and selectively engageable by said drive channel, wherein rotation of said pivot arm, during distal movement of said drive channel, results in proximal movement of said wedge plate.

24. The clip applier according to claim 17, further comprising a ratchet mechanism including:

a rack, having a plurality of ratchet teeth, associated with said drive channel; and

a pawl, having at least one tooth, disposed at a location to selectively engage said rack, wherein said pawl is biased into engagement with said rack, wherein as said drive channel is longitudinally reciprocated, said plurality of teeth are passed over said pawl, and wherein said pawl prevents inadvertent return of said drive channel before full actuation of said handles.

25. The clip applier according to claim 17, further comprising a drive pin operatively received in a pivot point formed in said drive channel to transmit axial forces to said drive channel during movement of said handles, wherein said pivot point is separated from an elongate slot by at least one lip.

26. The clip applier according to claim 19, wherein said drive channel is configured and dimensioned to at least partially surround said jaws and said wedge plate, wherein said drive channel includes a strap extending across a distal end thereof for maintaining said jaws and said wedge plate within said drive channel.