SURGICAL CLIP APPLICATOR

• US 3,777,538 A
• Filed: 03/15/1972
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbert L. Weatherly, Paul Back
• Original Assignee: Gilbert L. Weatherly, Paul Back
• Inventors: Weatherly, Gilbert L., Back, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Herbst, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keenan, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/234,936
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 72/410,409,407,416 227/19 128/325,326 29/2H,23H,23HC,23HM,212R 81/345
• US Class Current: 72/409.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

A surgical instrument specifically constructed for the application of fluid duct strangulation clips in human body locations which were heretofore substantially inaccessible for this type of surgical procedure. The applicator comprises an elongated barrel mounted to a pistol grip actuating handle with the applicator jaws acting cooperatively at the distal end of the barrel.

Claims

1. A surgical clip applicator comprising:

a handle member;

a housing fixed to said handle member;

a trigger member pivotally connected to said handle member and extending within said housing;

means for biasing said trigger member in one direction with respect to said handle member;

an elongated tubular barrel having the proximal end within said housing, said proximal end being engaged by said trigger member, said barrel being longitudinally movable and nonrotatable;

a rod removably secured to said hOusing and extending forward through said barrel, said rod being longitudinally and rotationally fixed with respect to said housing; and

jaws secured to the distal end of said rod a predetermined distance from said housing and extending forward of said barrel at a predetermined angle to the axis of said rod, said jaws being adapted to receive and maintain a surgical clip therebetween;

said jaws being normally biased apart at the forward end and including outwardly facing portions adapted to be engaged by the distal end of said barrel, said jaws being separated by a first predetermined distance when normally engaged by the distal end of said barrel, whereby upon longitudinal motion of said barrel said jaws are forced together.

2. The surgical clip applicator recited in claim 1 wherein:

said housing has two clear holes through the wall on one side longitudinally spaced a second predetermined distance apart, and two tapped holes in the wall on the opposite side in respective registration with said clear holes;

said barrel having elongated slots through opposite sides of the wall spaced forwardly from the proximal end thereof;

said rod having first and second bores therethrough adjacent the proximal end thereof, said bores being longitudinally spaced by said second predetermined distance and being angularly displaced 90* from each other;

said applicator further comprising a screw adapted to selectively pass through one of said holes and bores and said slots to engage the respective tapped hole;

whereby said rod is secured to said housing by said screw, said slots permitting longitudinal movement of said barrel with respect to said housing and said rod.

3. The surgical clip applicator recited in claim 1 wherein:

the rearward end of said housing is substantially closed, the proximal end of said barrel normally resting against the inner surface of said closed end of said housing, the distal end of said barrel engaging the biased forward portions of said jaws so as to permit said jaws to be separated only by said predetermined distance.

4. The surgical clip applicator recited in claim 1 wherein:

said distal end of said rod is formed with opposing U-shaped grooves extending rearwardly along said rod, said grooves having confronting sides;

said jaws are formed with elongated shanks fitting longitudinally within said grooves;

the proximal ends of said shanks being retained in said U-shaped channels and guided by said confronting sides thereof throughout their normal operating movement.

5. The surgical clip applicator recited in claim 4 wherein said jaws are formed with undercuts in confronting inner surfaces starting at a point just forward of said distal end of said rod and extending rearwardly therefrom, said undercuts permitting said jaws to come substantially together in confronting relationship.