Multiple clip applier
First Claim
1. A disposable cartridge for a plurality of ligating clips comprising:
- an elongated, generally U-shaped housing having a discharge end and having a transverse base defining a first plane and having two upstanding sidewalls;
a thin, generally planar, longitudinally-extending fixed rack secured in said first plane in said housing;
a thin, generally planar, longitudinally-extending movable rack mounted in said housing in a second plane generally parallel to said first plane of said first rack, with said planar surface of said movable rack disposed in confronting relationship to said planar surface of said fixed rack, each of said racks including a plurality of sets of resilient fingers projecting from its respective confronting planar surface toward the confronting planar surface of the other rack;
a plurality of clips arrayed in a line between the confronting planar surfaces of said racks from a first position adjacent the discharge end of said housing to successive positions placed longitudinally along said racks;
said movable rack advancing clips to said first position;
delivery means having a discharge end and movable in said housing in a third plane generally parallel to said first and said second planes;
long stroke motion receiving means on said delivery means;
short stroke motion receiving means on said movable racks;
said long stroke motion receiving means unconnected to said short stroke motion receiving means;
resilient transfer means cooperating with said delivery means and biased, in a rest position, in alignment with said movable rack and adapted for deflection transversely to said movable rack by said clip as said clip is advanced toward the discharge end of said housing;
said transfer means cooperating with said delivery means and said movable rack to transfer clips from said first position in said first plane of said fixed rack to said second plane of said movable rack and then to further transfer said clip from said second plane of said movable rack to said third plane of said delivery means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for housing, feeding and applying multiple ligating clips, including a handle which houses a delivery and feeding mechanism, and a cartridge which holds the clips. The handle employs a scissors-type action to set a clip which has been delivered to the jaws by the feeding and ratcheting mechanism. The feeding mechanism provides a relatively long stroke motion to deliver a clip from the end of a cartridge to the end of the nose. The mechanism also provides a relatively short stroke motion for operating the ratchet mechanism of the cartridge for feeding clips through the cartridge. The feeding, ratcheting and setting of the clip is all done by a single, scissors-type action employing only a small motion envelope so that the overall shape of the handle may be small and compact and readily adaptable for use deep in an incision site. The cartridge includes a fixed and moving ratchet rack which are operated by the short stroke ratcheting mechanism of the handle. Clips are fed from the end of the ratchet into the nose of the handle by a delivery means which may either push the clip into the nose or physically hold and carry the clip into the nose. The delivery device is driven by the long stroke delivery action of the handle. The entire apparatus may be disposable or the handle may be a reusable item adapted for use with disposable cartridges.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A disposable cartridge for a plurality of ligating clips comprising:
-
an elongated, generally U-shaped housing having a discharge end and having a transverse base defining a first plane and having two upstanding sidewalls; a thin, generally planar, longitudinally-extending fixed rack secured in said first plane in said housing; a thin, generally planar, longitudinally-extending movable rack mounted in said housing in a second plane generally parallel to said first plane of said first rack, with said planar surface of said movable rack disposed in confronting relationship to said planar surface of said fixed rack, each of said racks including a plurality of sets of resilient fingers projecting from its respective confronting planar surface toward the confronting planar surface of the other rack; a plurality of clips arrayed in a line between the confronting planar surfaces of said racks from a first position adjacent the discharge end of said housing to successive positions placed longitudinally along said racks; said movable rack advancing clips to said first position; delivery means having a discharge end and movable in said housing in a third plane generally parallel to said first and said second planes; long stroke motion receiving means on said delivery means; short stroke motion receiving means on said movable racks; said long stroke motion receiving means unconnected to said short stroke motion receiving means; resilient transfer means cooperating with said delivery means and biased, in a rest position, in alignment with said movable rack and adapted for deflection transversely to said movable rack by said clip as said clip is advanced toward the discharge end of said housing; said transfer means cooperating with said delivery means and said movable rack to transfer clips from said first position in said first plane of said fixed rack to said second plane of said movable rack and then to further transfer said clip from said second plane of said movable rack to said third plane of said delivery means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
Specification