Surgical clip applicator

• US 4,242,902 A
• Filed: 05/11/1978
• Issued: 01/06/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Green, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Francis S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosby, Gene P.
• Application Number:
  US05/905,030
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 72/410, 72/409, 128/325, 128/334 R, 128/335, 128/346, 227/19, 29/243.56
• US Class Current: 72/409.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil

Abstract

An improved surgical device for applying a clip to a blood vessel or other body tissue, and including a novel clip stop for preventing rearward movement or displacement of the clip, is disclosed. The apparatus of the invention comprises an elongated plate-like or arm member that, in a preferred embodiment, includes means defining a pair of projections and a concave intermediate portion that prevents the rearward movement or displacement of the clip and which serves to cause the elongated plate or arm to be moved upwardly and out of the way upon the actuation of the clip applicator. The device of the invention is particularly suitable for use in combination with surgical clip applicators of the so-called magazine or cartridge type. A particularly advantageous and preferred embodiment includes a novel clip stop assembly of the invention in combination with the unique surgical applicator of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 843,063, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,920.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for applying surgical clips comprising at one end a pair of opposed spaced-apart grooved jaws;

means operably associated with said jaws and adapted to contain a plurality of surgical clips and to feed them singly to a predetermined position between said jaws, and means operable to close said jaws to clinch a clip held therein, the improvement comprising a resilient elongated arm member having clip stop means defining a pair of outwardly directed projections and a concave intermediate portion, said intermediate portion serving to prevent rearward movement of said clip.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outwardly directed projections extend above said jaws whereby upon the actuation of the closing of said jaws, said resilient elongated arm member is caused to be moved upwardly and out of the clinching surfaces formed by said jaws.

3. An improved surgical device for applying a clip to a vein, artery or other body tissue and comprising an instrument, a disposable cartridge and a novel clip stop assembly,

(1) said cartridge comprising:

(a) elongated blade means defining at one end a pair of opposed jaws resiliently spaced apart,

(b) actuation means movable relative to said blade to close said jaws together, and

(c) cartridge housing means movably mounted on said blade means adapted to contain a plurality of surgical clips and feed them singly to a predetermined position relative to the jaws of said blade means so that movement of cartridge housing means relative to said blade means will transfer the clip in said predetermined position to said jaws properly oriented to be clinched by said jaws, and

(2) said instrument comprising

(d) a body,

(e) driver means mounted for movement in said body,

(f) movable handle means mounted in said body,

(g) means for translating motion of said handle means into movement of said driver means; and

(3) said clip stop assembly comprising

(h) a resilient elongated arm member having one end fixedly secured to said elongated blade means of said cartridge,

(i) clip stop means formed integrally with the opposite end of said elongated arm member and defining a pair of outwardly directed projections and a concave intermediate portion,

said intermediate portion serving to prevent rearward movement of said clip held by said opposed jaws,

said outwardly directed projections extending above said jaws whereby upon the actuation of the closing of said jaws, said resilient elongated arm member is caused to be moved upwardly and out of the clinching surfaces formed by said jaws.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said instrument further includes ring handles pivotally mounted on said body.

5. An apparatus for applying surgical clips and including an instrument and a disposable cartridge detachably connected thereto, said cartridge comprising

(a) elongated blade means defining a pair of opposed jaws resiliently spaced apart,

(b) actuation means movable relative to said blade to close said jaws together,

(c) cartridge housing means movably mounted on said blade means adapted to contain a plurality of surgical clips and feed them singly to a predetermined position relative to the jaws of said blade means so that movement of cartridge housing means relative to said blade means will transfer the clip in said predetermined position to said jaws properly oriented to be clinched by said jaws, said cartridge adapted to be quick detachably connected to an instrument provided with complimentary components of said quick detachable means, and

(d) a resilient elongated clip stop mechanism having one end fixedly secured to said elongated blade means and having at its opposite end, stop means defining a pair of outwardly directed projections and a concave intermediate portion, said intermediate portion serving to prevent rearward movement of said clip clinched by said opposed jaws, said outwardly directed projections extending above said jaws whereby upon the actuation of the closing of said jaws, said resilient elongated arm member is caused to be moved upwardly and out of the clinching surfaces formed by said jaws.

6. A novel clip stop adapted for use in a surgical device including a mechanism for applying a clip to a vein, artery or other body tissue, said clip stop comprising an elongated member, means positioned at the forward end of said member to prevent rearward movement of said clip, said means defining opposing outwardly directed projections and an intermediate concave portion, said projections serving to cause said elongated arm member to be moved from, and out of the way of, the mechanism for applying said clip as said clip is caused to be clinched to said vein, artery or body tissue, said concave portion serving to prevent rearward displacement of said clip during its said application to said vein, artery or blood vessel.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said intermediate portion is V-shaped.

8. An instrument for applying a surgical clip comprising closable opposed spaced-apart grooved jaws for holding and crimping said surgical clip;

a movable clip stop positioned between said jaws when said jaws are open to prevent unwanted rearward motion of said clip whereby the closing of said jaws to crimp said clip causes said movable clip stop to move out from between said jaws so that said jaws may close to completely crimp the clip.