Ligating clip applier

• US 5,431,668 A
• Filed: 04/29/1993
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pedlick, John, Petrella, Thomas, Gabel, Jonathan, Osborne, Guy L., Stefanchik, David, Burbank, John E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/054,734
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 606/142-143, 227/901, 227/902, 227/175-178, 227/181, 227/182
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/901 Surgical clip appliers

Abstract

There is described herein a ligating clip applier which contains: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly connected to the handle assembly and containing a shaft and a pair of jaws. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis which lies in a central horizontal plane. A magazine of clips is stored on one side of the plane. The jaws are positioned so that they are on the opposite side of the plane. This configuration allows the clip to be loaded into the jaws across the plane, resulting in greater visibility of the clips as they are loaded into the jaws. Further, there is provided a jaw closure mechanism operable in connection with the jaws of this device so that the jaws contact the legs of a ligating clip first distally and then proximally. Thereafter the jaws are parallel at least once during closure, and the closure of the clip legs is, indeed, distal and then proximal. This improved procedure insures that in virtually all instances, the angle included between the clip legs at the crown is 0°. Motion of the clip feeding and jaw closing mechanisms are accomplished without lost motion, via a pair of interengaged mechanisms connected by a single tension spring to one another, and operating separately from the body of the device. This configuration results in a more efficient, easier to operate more reliable clip applying device.

Claims

1. A ligating clip applier comprising:

a pair of jaws each said jaw with a proximal end and a distal end;

a jaw closure mechanism carried by a shaft, said jaw closure mechanism useful for closing said jaws;

a stack of clips disposed on said shaft, at least one clip from said stack contained between said jaws, said clips each having a pair of legs containing proximal ends and said legs angularly attached to one another at said proximal ends;

wherein said jaw closure mechanism causes said jaws to contact said clip first distally and then proximally, such that said jaws are parallel during at least one position during closure, and such that said leg proximal ends contact one another so that the angle included therebetween is substantially 0°

;

said jaw closure mechanism containing a longitudinally reciprocable bar capable of moving along a path and feeding a said clip into said jaws;

a handle attached to said shaft mechanism for operating said jaw closure mechanism; and

a lockout mechanism held in place one said shaft by said stack of clips and comprising a leaf spring, said leaf spring activated after closing of the last of said clips to move into said path and across said path, said leaf spring blocking movement of said longitudinally reciprocating bar.

2. The applier of claim 1 wherein said jaws are contained in a jaw assembly, and said jaw assembly connecting said jaws to a handle assembly, said jaw assembly containing a shaft attached to a pair of jaws, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis in a first plane and said jaws defining an axis placed at an angle to said longitudinal axis;

and

a clip magazine located on said shaft and containing a plurality of clips capable of being loaded into said jaws, said magazine placed on one side of said first plane and said jaws placed on the opposite side of said plane.

3. The applier of claim 2 wherein said jaws angle away from said first plane at an angle of about 30°

.

4. The applier of claim 2 wherein said clip magazine is contained in a plane immediately adjacent said first plane.

5. The clip applier of claim 1 wherein said jaw closure mechanism causes said jaw proximal ends to become closer to one another then said jaw distal ends during at least one position during closure.

6. The applier of claim 1 wherein said lockout mechanism is a first lockout mechanism and said applier further comprising a second lockout mechanism connected to said shaft and activated by activation of said first lockout mechanism.

7. The applier of claim 6 wherein said second lockout mechanism is a leaf spring opposing said reciprocating bar.

8. A ligating clip applier containing:

a clip carrying channel having a plurality of clips;

a pair of jaws extending from said channel for closing a clip from said plurality of clips, and said applier thereafter allowing said clip closed between said jaws to be expelled from said applier and capable of having a clip loaded therebetween from said clip carrying channels;

a jaw closure mechanism contained on a shaft, said shaft proximally attached to said jaws for closing said jaws, said jaw closure mechanism containing a longitudinally reciprocating bar capable of moving along a path and feeding a clip within said jaws;

a handle mechanism proximally attached to said shaft for operating said jaw closure mechanism; and

a lockout mechanism held in place by said clip carrying channel and comprising a leaf spring, said leaf spring activated after closing of the last of said clips to move into said path and across said path, said leaf spring blocking movement of said longitudinally reciprocating bar and wherein said lockout mechanism is a first lockout mechanism and said applier further comprising a second lockout mechanism connected to said clip carrying channel and activated by activation of said first lockout mechanism.

9. The applier of claim 8 wherein said reciprocating bar defines a first plane and further comprising said jaws defining an axis placed at an angle transverse said longitudinal axis;

and

a clip magazine containing a plurality of clips capable of being loaded in said jaws, said magazine placed on one side of said first plane and said jaws placed on the opposite side of said plane.

10. The applier of claim 9 wherein said jaws angle away from said first plane at an angle of about 30°

.

11. The applier of claim 9 wherein said clip magazine is contained in a plane immediately adjacent said first plane.

12. The applier of claim 8 further comprising a jaw closure mechanism wherein said jaw closure mechanism causes said jaws to contact clip first distally and then proximally, such that said jaws are parallel during at least one position during closure, and such that such leg proximal ends contact one another so that the angle included therebetween is substantially 0°

.

13. The clip applier of claim 12 wherein said jaw closure mechanism causes said jaw proximal ends to become closer to one another then said jaw distal ends during at least one position during closure.

14. The applier of claim 8 wherein said second lockout mechanism is a leaf spring opposing said reciprocating bar.

15. A ligating clip applier comprising:

an elongate support shaft and a magazine of clips contained in said shaft;

a pair of jaws mounted in, and extending from, said support shaft for receiving and closing one of said clips;

a handle assembly carrying said shaft and having a body and at least one handle pivotably mounted to said body;

a clip feeding mechanism movable relative to said shaft and handle assembly between an extended position to feed said clip into said jaws and a retracted position for receiving another clip from said magazine;

a jaw closure mechanism connected to said handle for movement relative to said shaft and handle assembly between an extended position engaging and closing said jaws and a retracted position permitting said jaws to open;

a tension spring connected between said clip feeding mechanism and said jaw closure mechanism with each end of said spring movable relative to said body whereby said spring biases said jaw closure mechanism to said retracted position and said clip feeding mechanism to said extended position; and

a link pivotably connected at one end at a fixed location on said handle and at the other end at a fixed location on said clip feeding mechanism for movement relative to said handle and said clip feeding mechanism while the pivot connections at each end of said link remain free of lateral guide surfaces whereby pivoting said handle effects retraction of said clip feeding mechanism and simultaneous extension of said jaw closure mechanism.

16. The applier of claim 15 wherein said jaws are contained in a jaw assembly, and said jaw assembly connecting said jaws to a handle assembly, said jaw assembly containing a shaft attached to a pair of jaws, said shaft defining a longitudinal axis in a first plane and said jaws defining an axis placed at an angle to said longitudinal axis;

and

a clip magazine containing a plurality of clips capable of being loaded into said jaws, said magazine placed on one side of said first plane and said jaws placed on the opposite side of said plane.

17. A ligating clip applier comprising:

an elongate support shaft and a magazine of clips contained in said shaft;

a pair of jaws mounted in, and extending from, said support shaft for receiving and closing one of said clips;

a handle assembly carrying said shaft and having a body and at least one handle pivotably mounted to said body;

a clip feeding mechanism movable relative to said shaft and handle assembly between an extended position to feed said clip into said jaws and a retracted position for receiving another clip from said magazine;

a jaw closure mechanism movable relative to said shaft and handle assembly between an extended position engaging and closing said jaws and a retracted position permitting said jaws to open;

a tension spring connected between said clip feeding mechanism and said jaw closure mechanism with each end of said spring movable relative to said body whereby said spring biases said jaw closure mechanism to said retracted position and said clip feeding mechanism to said extended position;

a first link pivotably connected at one end at a fixed location on said handle and at the other end at a fixed location on said jaw closure mechanism for movement relative to said handle and said jaw closure mechanism; and

a second link pivotably connected at one end at a fixed location on said handle and at the other end at a fixed location on said clip feeding mechanism for movement relative to said handle and said clip feeding mechanism whereby closing said handle effects retraction of said clip feeding mechanism and simultaneous extension of said jaw closure mechanism.

18. A ligating clip applier comprising:

an elongate support shaft and a magazine of clips contained in said shaft;

a pair of jaws mounted in, and extending from, said support shaft for receiving and closing one of said clips;

a handle assembly carrying said shaft and having a body and at least one handle pivotably mounted to said body;

a clip feeding mechanism movable relative to said shaft and handle assembly between an extended position to feed said clip into said jaws and a retracted position for receiving another clip from said magazine;

a jaw closure mechanism movable relative to said shaft and handle assembly between an extended position engaging and closing said jaws and a retracted position permitting said jaws to open;

a tension spring connected between said clip feeding mechanism and said jaw closure mechanism with each end of said spring movable relative to said body whereby said spring biases said jaw closure mechanism to said retracted position and said clip feeding mechanism to said extended position;

a first link pivotably connected at one end at a fixed location on said handle and at the other end at a fixed location on said jaw closure mechanism for movement relative to said handle and said jaw closure mechanism; and

a second link pivotable connected at one end at a fixed location on said handle and at the other end at a fixed location on said clip feeding mechanism for movement relative to said handle and said clip feeding mechanism while the pivot connections at each end of said second link remain free of lateral guide surfaces whereby closing said handle effects retraction of said clip feeding mechanism and simultaneous extension of said jaw closure mechanism.