Endoscopic suture clip

• US 5,160,339 A
• Filed: 06/18/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark, Chen, Chao C., Zwaskis, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/717,134
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 606/157, 606/158, 606/151, 227/902
• US Class Current: 606/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/902 Surgical clips or staples

Abstract

An improved surgical clip having first and second leg members joined at their proximal ends by resilient hinge means and terminating at their distal ends in latch means. Each leg member has an outer surface and a clamping inner surface. The outer surface of each leg member is configured to be accepted by the jaws of a clip applier. The improvement in the clip design specifically relates to the design of the clamping inner surface of each leg member of the clip. The clamping inner surface of the first leg member has a convex radius of curvature extending transversely across at least a portion of the width of the first leg member, and the clamping inner surface of the second leg member has a concave radius of curvature extending transversely across at least a portion of the width of the second leg member. The radius of curvature of the clamping inner surface of the first leg member is smaller than, and complementary to, the radius of curvature of the clamping inner surface of the second leg member.

Claims

1. A surgical clip comprising first and second leg members joined at their proximal ends by resilient hinge means and terminating at their distal ends in latch means, each leg member having an outer surface and a clamping inner surface, said clamping inner surface being in opposition to the clamping inner surface of the other leg member, the outer surface of each leg member being configured to be accepted by the jaws of a clip applier;

the improvement wherein the clamping inner surface of said first leg member has a convex radius of curvature extending transversely across substantially the entire width of said first leg member, the clamping inner surface of said second leg member has a concave radius of curvature extending transversely across substantially the entire width of said second leg member, the radius of curvature of the clamping inner surface of said first leg member being smaller than the radius of curvature of the clamping inner surface of said second leg member, the radius of curvature of the clamping inner surfaces of said first and second leg members being complementary, and when the clip is in a clamped position, the clamping inner surfaces of said first and second leg members are in substantially complete contacting relationship so as to minimize the gap which is created between said surfaces.

2. The clip of claim 1 wherein said radii of curvature of the clamping inner surfaces of said first and second leg members are uniform.

3. The clip of claim 2 wherein the outer surface of each leg member includes a cylindrical boss to facilitate engagement of said clip by the jaws of a clip applier.