Apparatus for applying surgical clips
First Claim
1. A ratchet for moving surgical clips along a path at least a portion of which is longitudinally curved comprising:
- an elongated body which can be flexed into the shape of the path;
a plurality of teeth having clip engaging portions for conveying said surgical clips along said path, said teeth associated with one side of the body, the teeth being divided into sets with the distance the teeth project from the body, when the body is uncurved, varying between the sets to accommodate the curved portion of the path so that when the body is flexed into the shape of the path, the teeth of the various sets project from the body to approximately the same extent, notwithstanding the curve.
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Abstract
Apparatus for applying surgical clips to tissue includes a self-contained supply of clips and is constructed to apply those clips, one at a time, through movement of the thumb and fingers of one hand. The clips are stored inside a sleeve along the length of the instrument, are fed into jaws at the distal end of the instrument, and are closed about tissue by a camming action produced by moving the jaws relative to the sleeve and camming them shut. An actuating and sequencing section controls feeding and clip deformation, and guarantees that the instrument is operated only in the proper sequence so as to avoid jamming.
833 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A ratchet for moving surgical clips along a path at least a portion of which is longitudinally curved comprising:
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an elongated body which can be flexed into the shape of the path; a plurality of teeth having clip engaging portions for conveying said surgical clips along said path, said teeth associated with one side of the body, the teeth being divided into sets with the distance the teeth project from the body, when the body is uncurved, varying between the sets to accommodate the curved portion of the path so that when the body is flexed into the shape of the path, the teeth of the various sets project from the body to approximately the same extent, notwithstanding the curve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A ratchet for moving surgical clips along a path at least a portion of which is longitudinally curved comprising:
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an elongated body which can be flexed into the shape of the path; a plurality of teeth having clip engaging portions for conveying said surgical clips along said path, said teeth associated with one side of the body, the teeth being divided into sets with the spacing between the clip engaging portions of adjacent teeth, when the body is uncurved, varying between the sets to accommodate the curved portion of the path so that when the body is flexed into the shape of the path, the spacing between the clip engaging portions of adjacent teeth of the various sets is approximately the same, notwithstanding the curve. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
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Original AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
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InventorsMcGarry, Richard A., Noiles, Douglas G.
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Primary Examiner(s)Freeh, William L.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Neils, Paul F.
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Application NumberUS06/693,203Time in Patent Office672 DaysField of Search128/325, 128/326, 128/334 R, 227/DIG. 1, 72/410, 29/243.56US Class Current606/143CPC Class CodesA61B 17/128 for applying or removing cl...A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack ...
