ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER
First Claim
1. An apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue, comprising:
- a handle portion; and
a trigger rotatably coupled to the handle portion, the handle portion including;
a rack slidably supported within the handle portion and in mechanical communication with the trigger, the rack configured to translate from a first, proximal position, to a second, distal position;
a pawl slidably and rotatably supported within the handle portion, the pawl being in selective engagement with the rack; and
a biasing element supported by the handle portion and in mechanical communication with the pawl, the biasing element having a biasing force configured to bias the pawl towards the rack such that the rack is permitted to translate in a distal direction, but is selectively inhibited from translating in a proximal direction until the rack is in the second, distal position,wherein actuation of the trigger in a proximal direction causes the rack to translate in a distal direction and actuation of the trigger in a distal direction urges the rack in a proximal direction and causes the pawl to exert a force on the biasing element, wherein when the force exerted on the biasing element is greater than the biasing force, the biasing element deflects allowing the pawl to disengage from the rack and permit the rack to translate in a proximal direction to the first, proximal position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ratchet assembly for use with an apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue includes a pawl and a biasing element. The pawl is slidably supported within a handle portion of the apparatus. The biasing element is supported by the handle portion and is in mechanical communication with the pawl. The biasing element has a biasing force configured to bias the pawl towards the rack such that the rack is permitted to translate in a distal direction, but is selectively inhibited from translating in a proximal direction until the rack is in a distal-most position. When the rack is urged in a proximal direction, the pawl exerts a force on the biasing element. When the force exerted on the biasing element is greater than the biasing force, the biasing element deflects allowing the pawl to disengage from the rack and permit the rack to translate in a proximal direction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue, comprising:
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a handle portion; and a trigger rotatably coupled to the handle portion, the handle portion including; a rack slidably supported within the handle portion and in mechanical communication with the trigger, the rack configured to translate from a first, proximal position, to a second, distal position; a pawl slidably and rotatably supported within the handle portion, the pawl being in selective engagement with the rack; and a biasing element supported by the handle portion and in mechanical communication with the pawl, the biasing element having a biasing force configured to bias the pawl towards the rack such that the rack is permitted to translate in a distal direction, but is selectively inhibited from translating in a proximal direction until the rack is in the second, distal position, wherein actuation of the trigger in a proximal direction causes the rack to translate in a distal direction and actuation of the trigger in a distal direction urges the rack in a proximal direction and causes the pawl to exert a force on the biasing element, wherein when the force exerted on the biasing element is greater than the biasing force, the biasing element deflects allowing the pawl to disengage from the rack and permit the rack to translate in a proximal direction to the first, proximal position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A ratchet assembly for use with an apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue, comprising:
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a pawl slidably supported within a handle portion of the apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue; and a biasing element supported by the handle portion of the apparatus and in mechanical communication with the pawl, the biasing element having a biasing force configured to bias the pawl towards the rack such that the rack is permitted to translate in a distal direction, but is selectively inhibited from translating in a proximal direction until the rack is in a distal-most position, wherein when the rack is urged in a proximal direction, the pawl exerts a force on the biasing element, wherein when the force exerted on the biasing element is greater than the biasing force, the biasing element deflects allowing the pawl to disengage from the rack and permit the rack to translate in a proximal direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification