Spring activated hemostatic clip applicator

• US 4,611,595 A
• Filed: 06/18/1984
• Issued: 09/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Klieman, Covell L. David
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Klieman, Covell L. David
• Inventors: Klieman, Charles H., Densmore, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shedd, C. W.
• Application Number:
  US06/621,150
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 128/325, 128/326, 128/334 R, 227/19, 227/119, 227/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00738 part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon

Abstract

A surgical clip applying device having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the exterior of the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming jaws coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming clips, a clip feed blade for moving clips from the clip magazine to the deforming jaws, and a spring activated actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism includes handle portions, a ratchet member connected to the handle portions, a spring connected to the main body and the ratchet member, along with a latch adapted to engage the ratchet member. By movement of one of the handle portions with respect to the other handle portion energy is stored in the spring and retained therein via engagement of the latch with the ratchet member. In operation, a slight movement of one of the handle portions with respect to the other handle portion disengages the latch from the ratchet member so that the energy stored in the spring is converted into rapid forward movement of the clip feed blade. This forward movement causes the clip feed blade to slide through the magazine and rapidly place a clip in the deforming jaws.

Claims

1. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming said clips, clip feed means for moving said clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means, the improvement comprising, means for actuating said clip feed means including

(i) two handle portions coupled to said main body;

and

(ii) energizing means coupled to said main body, said clip feed means and one said handle portion for storing energy and selectively supplying said energy to said clip feed means, wherein movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion causes said energizing means to store energy and subsequent movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion causes said energizing means to supply said energy to said clip feed means so as to cause one said clip to be moved rapidly from said clip magazine to said clip deforming means.

2. The clip applying device of claim 1 wherein said energizing means comprises a spring adapted to store energy and selectively couple said energy to said clip feed means.

3. The clip applying device of claim 2, wherein said energizing means further includes a ratchet member coupled to said clip feed means, said spring and said main body, wherein movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion causes a displacement of said ratchet member and a corresponding storage of energy in said spring, and subsequent movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion causes said spring and said ratchet member to supply said energy to said clip feed means.

4. The clip applying device of claim 3 wherein said energizing means further includes a latch coupled to said main body and adapted to engage said ratchet member, wherein said latch engages said ratchet member so as to prevent reverse movement while energy is stored in said spring and said latch is disengaged from said ratchet member when said energy is to be supplied to said clip feed means.

5. The clip applying device of claim 4 wherein said clip feed means is a blade member adapted to move longitudinally through said clip magazine, said blade member having a forked portion at the end nearest said clip deforming means, wherein during the contraction of said clip deforming means, said forked portion is also contracted.

6. The clip applying device of claim 5 wherein said blade member is comprised of a plurality of laminated strips adapted to move longitudinally relative to said main body while bending laterally.

7. The clip applying device of claim 1 wherein said clip feed means is a blade member adapted to move longitudinally through said clip magazine, said blade member having a forked portion at the end nearest said clip deforming means, wherein contraction of said clip deforming means to deform a clip also contracts said forked portion.

8. The clip applying device of claim 7 wherein said blade member is comprised of a plurality of laminated strips adapted to move longitudinally relative to said main body while bending laterally.

9. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, upper and lower jaw portions coupled to said main body and adapted to receive, maintain and deform a clip therebetween, a clip feed blade adapted to slide into said jaw portions so as to move said clips from said magazine to said jaw portions, an upper handle portion fixedly coupled to said main body, and a lower handle portion pivotally coupled to said main body and fixedly coupled to said clip deforming means, the improvement comprising:

(i) a ratchet member coupled to said clip feed blade and said lower handle portion;

(ii) a spring coupled to said main body and said ratchet member; and

(iii) a latch coupled to said main body and adapted to engage said ratchet member, wherein movement of said lower handle portion toward said upper handle portion causes displacement of said ratchet member and storage of energy in said spring, and reverse movement of said ratchet member is prevented by engagement of said latch with said ratchet member until said upper handle portion is moved away from said lower handle portion a predetermined distance at which time said latch is disengaged from said ratchet member thereby allowing the energy stored in said spring to induce reverse movement of said ratchet member and the corresponding rapid sliding of said clip feed blade through said magazine and into said jaw portions, thereby rapidly moving one said clip into said jaw portions.

10. The clip applying device of claim 9 wherein said clip feed blade is a blade member adapted to move longitudinally through said clip magazine, said blade member having a forked portion at the end nearest said clip deforming means, wherein during the contraction of said jaw portions, said forked portion is also contracted.

11. The clip applying device of claim 10 wherein said blade member is comprised of a plurality of laminated strips adapted to move longitudinally relative to said main body while bending laterally.

12. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, upper and lower jaw portions coupled to said main body and adapted to receive, maintain and deform a clip therebetween, a clip feed blade adapted to slide through said magazine and into said jaw portions so as to move said clips from said magazine to said jaw portions, an upper handle portion fixedly coupled to said main body, and a lower handle portion pivotally coupled to said main body and fixedly coupled to said upper jaw portion, the improvement comprising:

(i) said clip feed blade having a plurality of serrations along a portion of one longitudinal edge nearest said handle portions;

(ii) a spring coupled to said clip feed blade and said main body; and

(iii) a latch coupled to said main body and adapted to engage said clip feed blade serrations, whereby movement of said lower handle portion toward said upper handle portion causes a retraction of said clip feed blade away from said jaw portions and a corresponding distortion of said spring from its quiescent configuration, return of said clip feed blade is prevented by engagement of said latch with said clip feed blade serrations until said upper handle portion is moved away from said lower handle portion at which time said latch is disengaged from said serrations thereby allowing said spring to return to its quiescent configuration with a corresponding rapid sliding of said clip feed blade through said magazine and into said jaw portions, thereby rapidly moving one said clip into said jaw portions.

13. The clip applying device of claim 12 wherein said clip feed blade is a blade member adapted to move longitudinally through said clip magazine, said blade member having a forked portion at the end nearest said jaw portions, whereby during the contraction of said jaw portions, said forked portion is also contracted.

14. The clip applying device of claim 13 wherein said clip feed blade is comprised of a plurality of laminated strips adapted to move longitudinally relative to said main body while bending laterally.

15. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming said clips, and clip feed means for moving said clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means, the improvement comprising:

energizing means coupled to said main body and said clip feed means for storing energy and supplying the stored energy to actuate the clip feed means;

latch means for latching the energizing means to retain the energy stored in the energizing means;

means adapted for manual operation for selectively actuating the latch means to release the energy stored in the energizing means, wherein the released energy is supplied to the clip feed means which causes the clip feed means to move a clip from the magazine to the deforming means; and

means adapted for manual operation for restoring the energy in the energizing means;

wherein sequential clips, to the extent of said plurality of clips, may be fed to said deforming means for sequential application thereof.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the energizing means comprises a spring adapted to store energy and supply the energy to the clip feed means.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for actuating the latch means and the means for restoring the energy comprise two handle portion at least one of which is coupled to the main body wherein movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion causes the energizing means to store energy which is retained by the latch means and a subsequent movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion actuates the latch means which causes the energizing means to release and supply the energy to said clip feed means so as to cause a clip to be moved rapidly from the clip magazine to the clip deforming means.

18. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming said clips, clip feed means for moving said clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means, and two handle portions coupled to the deforming means for actuating the deforming means as the handle portions are moved together;

the improvement comprising,

energizing means coupled to at least one handle portion and the clip feed means, for energizing the clip feed means to cause the clip feed means to move a clip from the magazine to the deforming means, said energizing means having means for storing energy as the handle portions are moved together to deform a clip, and means responsive to a subsequent movement of the handle portions away from each other, for releasing the stored energy to energize the clip feed means independent of further movement of the handle portions.

19. The device of claim 18 further comprising means for allowing the handle portions to be moved apart from each other a predetermined distance before the clip feed means is energized thereby allowing the handle portions to be opened and closed within the predetermined distance without energizing the clip feed means.

20. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, and opposing clip deforming jaws coupled to the main body for receiving and compressing the clips to deform the clips, the improvement comprising clip feed means for moving said clips from the clip magazine forward to the clip deforming jaws including:

a clip feed blade adapted to move longitudinally to the clip deforming jaws, said feed blade having a flexible forked portion at the end nearest the clip deforming jaws, which is adapted to engage a clip as the clip is moved to the deforming jaws and is further adapted to accommodate being compressed by the clip deforming jaws should the forked portion of the feed blade remain in the deforming jaws as a clip is deformed.

21. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming the clips, clip feed means for moving the clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means and clip advancement means for advancing the clips through the magazine to the clip feed means, the improvement comprising:

energizing means coupled to the main body and the clip advancement means for storing energy and supplying the stored energy to actuate the clip advancement means;

latch means for latching the energizing means to retain the energy stored in the energizing means;

means adapted for manual operation for selectively actuating the latch means to release the energy stored in the energizing means, wherein the released energy is supplied to the clip advancement means which causes the clip advancement means to move the clips through from the magazine to the clip feed means; and

means adapted for manual operation for restoring the energy in the energizing means;

wherein sequential clips, to the extent of said plurality of clips, may be advanced to the clip feed means.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the energizing means comprises a spring adapted to store energy and supply the energy to the clip feed means.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the means for actuating the latch means and the means for restoring the energy comprise two handle portions at least one of which is coupled to the main body wherein movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion causes the energizing means to store energy which is retained by the latch means and a subsequent movement of one said handle portion with respect to the other said handle portion actuates the latch means which causes the energizing means to release and supply the energy to the clip advancement means so as to cause the clips to be moved through the clip magazine to the clip feed means.

24. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming the clips, clip feed means for moving the clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means, clip advancement means for advancing the clips through the magazine to the clip feed means, and two handle portions coupled to the deforming means for actuating the deforming means as the handle portions are moved together;

the improvement comprising,

energizing means coupled to at least one handle portion and the clip advancement means, for energizing the clip advancement means to cause the clip advancement means to advance the clips through the magazine to the clip feed means, said energizing means having means for storing energy as the handle portions are moved together to deform a clip, and means responsive to a subsequent movement of the handle portions away from each other, for releasing the stored energy to energize the clip advancement means independent of further movement of the handle portions.

25. A surgical clip applying device comprising:

a first unitary member having a clip deforming jaw at one end and a finger loop at the other;

a second unitary member having a clip deforming jaw at one end and a finger loop at the other end, said first and second members being pivotally coupled together so that opening and closing the finger loops causes the jaws to open and close together to deform a clip placed therein;

a clip magazine coupled to at least one member for holding a plurality of clips;

a clip feed blade for moving a clip from the magazine to the member jaws;

actuator means coupled to the finger loops and the clip feed blade, for actuating the clip feed blade to thereby move a clip to the jaws as the finger loops are moved relative to each other; and

lost motion means coupled to the actuator means and the finger loops, for allowing the finger loops to be moved relative to each other within a predetermined distance after a clip has been deformed in the jaws without actuating the clip feed blade wherein a clip in the jaws may be manipulated by relative movement of the finger loops within the predetermined distance without actuating the clip feed blade.

26. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming said clips, a clip feed blade for moving said clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means, and two handle portions, at least one of which is coupled to the main body and the deforming means for actuating the deforming means as the handle portions are moved toward each other;

the improvement comprising,

means coupled to at least one handle portion for withdrawing the feed blade from the clip deforming means to the magazine as the handle portions are moved toward each other;

releasable latch means for latching the feed blade to prevent the feed blade from moving forward toward the deforming means until released;

means coupled to at least one handle portion for releasing the latch means when the handle portions have been opened a predetermined distance apart; and

lost motion means for allowing the handle portions to be moved apart from each other within the predetermined distance without reversing the clip feed blade thereby allowing the handle portions to be opened within the predetermined distance to actuate the deforming means without actuating the clip feed blade.

27. In a surgical clip applying device of the type having a main body, a clip magazine coupled to the main body for holding a plurality of clips, clip deforming means coupled to the main body for receiving and deforming the clips, clip feed means for moving the clips from the clip magazine to the deforming means, clip advancement means for advancing the clips through the magazine to the clip feed means, and two handle portions coupled to the deforming means for actuating the deforming means as the handle portions are moved together;

the improvement comprising;

energizing means coupled to at least one handle portion, the clip advancement means and the clip feed means, for energizing the clip feed means and clip advancement means to cause the clip advancement means to advance the clips through the magazine to the clip feed means and to cause the clip feed means to move a clip from the magazine to the clip deforming means, said energizing means having means for storing energy as the handle portions are moved together to deform a clip, and means responsive to a subsequent movement of the handle portions away from each other, for releasing the stored energy to energize the clip advancement means and clip feed means independent of further movement of the handle portions.