Closure prevention apparatus for surgical clip applier

• US 5,282,808 A
• Filed: 02/04/1993
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Origin Medsystems Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd, Costa, Peter F., Holmes, William A., Daulton, Jay, Kovac, Tim, Kloeckl, Terrance
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/013,609
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 606/142, 606/143, 227/901, 227/902, 227/181
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/901 Surgical clip appliers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/902 Surgical clips or staples

Abstract

According to the present invention, a surgical clip applier includes means for preventing closure of the clip closing mechanism when no clips are left in the applier. The clip applier includes a shaft having distal and proximal ends, means in the shaft for advancing clips to the distal end, means at the distal end for closing clips and a jam clip carried by the advancing means proximally of the surgical clips, wherein the jam clip is positioned in the clip closing means and prevents closure thereof after all surgical clips have been applied.

Claims

1. Closure prevention apparatus adapted for use with a surgical clip applier having a shaft with distal and proximal ends, clip closure means at the distal end, and means in the shaft for retaining a plurality of surgical clips and advancing the clips to the clip closure means, the apparatus comprising:

a jam clip capable of being disposed in the shaft proximally of the surgical clips, whereby the jam clip is adapted to be advanced by the advancing means to the clip closure means, wherein the jam clip comprises a pair of legs connected at an apex, and means attached to a first of the legs for engaging a second of the legs to prevent closure thereof.

2. The closure apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jam clip further comprises means for clearing tissue from the closure means when the jam clip is positioned therein.

3. The closure prevention apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for engaging the second leg comprises an extension extending toward the second leg from a distal end of the first leg, said extension clearing tissue from the closure means when the jam clip is positioned therein.

4. The closure prevention apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jam clip is comprised of a material which is usually distinguishable from that of surgical clips.

5. The closure prevention apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jam clip is configured to be advanced through the shaft with the legs pointing distally and configured to be rotated at the distal end such that the legs point laterally in the closure means.

6. A surgical clip applier for applying surgical clips having a pair of connected legs comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

means for advancing surgical clips along the shaft toward the distal end;

means at the distal end for closing the legs of the surgical clips; and

means carried proximally of the surgical clips by the advancing means for preventing closure of the closing means, wherein said closure preventing means engages the closing means after the surgical clips have been advanced and closed in order to prevent further closure of the closing means.

7. The clip applier of claim 6 wherein the means for preventing closure comprises a jam clip advanced through the shaft and positioned in the closing means.

8. The clip applier of claim 7 wherein the means for advancing comprises a movable belt mounted in the shaft, the belt having a plurality of retainers for holding surgical clips, the jam clip being advanced by a feature on the belt proximal to the retainers.

9. The clip applier of claim 7 wherein the jam clip comprises first and second legs connected at an apex and an extension extending toward the second leg from a distal end of the first leg for engaging the second leg to prevent closure.

10. The clip applier of claim 7 wherein the jam clip further comprises means for clearing tissue from the closing means when the jam clip is positioned therein.

11. The clip applier of claim 7 wherein the jam clip is visible through at least a portion of the shaft.

12. The clip applier of claim 11 wherein the jam clip comprises a material which contrasts the surgical clip to facilitate visualization.

13. The clip applier of claim 11 wherein the shaft is at least partially translucent.

14. The clip applier of claim 7 wherein the closing means comprises an anvil having a forming surface oriented at least 5°

relative to the shaft, and a hammer slidably mounted in the shaft to be movable against the anvil, the jam clip being advanced into the anvil and engaged by a distal end of the hammer.

15. The clip applier of claim 14 wherein the advancing means advances clips with legs pointing in a distal direction, the clip applier further comprising means at the distal end of the shaft for rotating clips such that the legs point in a lateral direction, the jam clip being rotated by said rotating means.

16. The clip applier of claim 15 wherein the forming surface is oriented at about 90°

relative to the shaft.

17. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means at the proximal end of the shaft for actuating the closing means, the actuating means having means for locking when the closing means is actuated with the jam clip therein.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the actuating means comprising a lever having a ratchet, the ratchet being configured to lock the lever in position when the closing means is actuated with the jam clip therein.