Tip configuration for a ligating clip applier

• US 4,480,641 A
• Filed: 02/05/1982
• Issued: 11/06/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Failla, Stephen J., D'Innocenzio, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kartchner, Gene B.
• Application Number:
  US06/345,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 128/325, 128/326, 128/321, 128/346, 72/410, 227/DIG. 1 B
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips

Abstract

A multiple clip applier including a handle and a cartridge which holds a large number of ligating clips and which snaps into a cartridge-receiving channel on the handle. The handle operates like an elongated scissors with scissors handles at one end and jaws at the other to which clips may be delivered in rapid succession. Opening and closing the scissors handles operates the mechanism of the handle to open and close the jaws and to provide a long stroke motion for delivering clips from the end of the cartridge to the nose section. Clips may be indexed through the cartridge by reciprocating parts of the cartridge with respect to one another with a short stroke cocking motion captured from the long stroke delivery motion from a cooperating slot and pin mechanism. These two motions are accomplished within the envelope of motion of the normal opening and closing of the scissors handles to operate the jaws of the applier and to feed and index clips from the cartridge to the nose. The mechanism of the present invention permits the overall shape of the handle to be small, compact and readily adaptable for use even deep in an incision site.

Claims

1. Jaw tips for a medical instrument for applying ligating clips comprising:

a right and left jaw disposed in confronting relationship and adapted to move together to close a clip about a vessel to be ligated, each of said jaws including;

a generally U-shaped channel having a first and second side wall and a base, the base of each jaw tapering toward the other as one advances in a direction toward the jaw tips from the body of said instrument when said jaws are in the fully opened position to partially close a clip as it is delivered to the jaw tips to assist in maintaining the clip within said U-shaped channels;

the distal end of each jaw tip including a recess for receiving a projecting portion of said clip and for retaining said clip projection therein during closing, thereby preventing said clip from receding into said U-shaped channels as it is closed about a vessel;

said recess including a first portion which undercuts the base of each said U-shaped channel, the base and the edge of the recess forming an acute angle to provide a stop for preventing the clip from receding from the jaws while it is being closed about a vessel to be ligated, the bottom of said recess extending longitudinally of its jaw a distance greater than the projecting portion of said clip to facilitate the entry of the projecting portion on said clip into said recess;

each said jaw tip further includes a planar exit portion stepped down below the plane of said U-shaped channel bases and extending from the distal end of each said recess to the distal end of each said jaw tip;

the inwardly facing, upper portion of each side wall of each said U-shaped channel includes a convex, curved portion extending longitudinally along said U-shaped channel from a point rearward of said recess to the end of each jaw tip to facilitate proper closure of the ligating clip despite misalignment of said jaw tips.

2. The jaw tips of claim 1 further including a tapered end portion for each of the upstanding side walls of each U-shaped channel extending from a point forward of said recess to the distal end of said jaw tip to facilitate sighting of a clip as it engages a vessel to be ligated.

3. Jaw tips for a medical instrument for applying a plurality of ligating clips comprising:

a generally U-shaped channel having a first and second side wall and a base, the base of each jaw tip tapering toward one another as one advances in a direction toward the jaw tips from the body of said instrument when said jaws are in the fully opened position;

the distal end of each jaw tip including a recess, a first portion of which undercuts said base, the base and the edge of the recess forming an acute angle to form a stop for preventing a clip from receding from the tip of said jaws while it is being closed about a vessel to be ligated;

each of said jaw tips including a planar exit portion stepped down below the plane of said channel base and extending from the distal end of said recess to the distal end of said jaw tip; and

,

the inwardly facing upper portion of each side wall of each channel having a convex curved portion extending axially along said channel from a point rearward of said recess to the end of each jaw tip to facilitate proper closure of a ligating clip despite misalignment of said jaw tips.