Automatic clip applier for clamping two ligating clips simultaneously

• US 20110218554A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Holger Engel, Ming-Heui Cheng, Steve L. Henry
• Original Assignee: Holger Engel, Ming-Huei Cheng, Steve L. Henry
• Inventors: Henry, Steve L., Cheng, Ming-Huei
• Application Number:
  US12/801,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/143
• 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 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00

Abstract

An automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips is disclosed, which includes: a handling unit, and two clamping means laminating with each other and connecting to the handling unit. Each clamping means respectively contains: a jaw unit containing a clipping portion to clamp a ligating clip; a magazine unit for storing plural ligating clip; a feeding unit for translating the endmost ligating clip from the magazine unit to the clipping portion of the jaw unit; and a dispensing unit for serially translating the endmost ligating clip to the end of the feeding unit. Accordingly, the automatic clip applier provided by the present invention can be used for clamping two ends of a vessel simultaneously, and the step of taking ligating clips can also be omitted. Hence, the surgical procedure can be simplified and the surgical time can be shortened by use of the automatic clip applier of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips, comprising:

a handling unit; and

two clamping means laminating with each other and connecting to the handling unit, and each clamping means respectively comprising;

a jaw unit containing a clipping portion to clamp a ligating clip;

a jaw housing containing a cavity, wherein the jaw unit is disposed in the cavity of the jaw housing;

a magazine unit for storing plural ligating clips;

a feeding unit for moving the endmost ligating clip from the magazine unit to the clipping portion of the jaw unit;

a dispensing unit for serially translating the endmost ligating clip to the end of the feeding unit; and

an operation unit connecting to the handling unit, the feeding unit, and the jaw housing, wherein the jaw housing is pushed and the feeding unit is drawn by operating the handling unit to move the jaw housing toward the clipping portion of the jaw unit to clamp the ligating clip positioning at the clipping portion, and to move the feeding unit in an opposite direction of the movement of the jaw housing, and the feeding unit moves back by restoring the handling unit to deliver the endmost ligating clip to the clipping portion of the jaw unit.

2. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cutting unit and an advancing unit, wherein the cutting unit connects to the advancing unit, and the cutting unit is moved toward the clipping portions of the jaw units by operating the advancing unit.

3. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cutting unit comprises a cutting component and a connecting component, the cutting component connects with the connecting component, and the connecting component connects with the advancing unit.

4. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cutting unit and the advancing unit are disposed between the two clamping means.

5. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a channel cavity disposed between the two clamping means, wherein the advancing unit is placed inside the channel cavity.

6. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an elastic element, wherein the connecting component is sheathed into the elastic element, and one end of the elastic element connects to the advancing unit.

7. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cutting unit and the advancing unit are disposed on a side of one of the clamping means.

8. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a fixing unit disposed on the side of one of the clamping means, wherein the fixing unit has a channel cavity, and the advancing unit is placed inside the channel cavity.

9. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an elastic element, wherein the connecting component is sheathed into the elastic element, and one end of the elastic element connects to the fixing unit.

10. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cutting component is a blade.

11. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cutting component is a hook.

12. The automatic clip applier for clamping ligating clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating unit comprises:

a pull component and a push component, the pull component connects with the feeding unit and the handling unit, the push component connects with the jaw housing and the handling unit, the push component is pushed and the pull component is drawn by operating the handling unit, the push component is pushed to move the jaw housing toward the clipping portion of the jaw unit to clamp the ligating clip positioned at the clipping portion, the pull component is drawn to move the feeding unit in an opposite direction of the movement of the jaw housing, the feeding unit is moved back by restoring the handling unit to deliver the endmost ligating clip in the magazine unit to the clipping portion of the jaw unit.