Surgical clip applying instrument
First Claim
1. A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- joining a handle assembly to a cartridge assembly;
operatively connecting a single operating member in said handle assembly to a closure member or a feeder in said cartridge assembly;
operatively connecting said closure member to a clip feeder in said cartridge assembly such that movement of said closure member in one direction results in movement of said feeder in an opposite direction;
selectively driving one of said closure member or feeder in a proximal or distal direction substantially in tandem with said single operating member which in turn actuates reverse movement of the other;
forming a clip with distal movement of said closure member; and
feeding a new clip with proximal movement of said closure member.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The surgical instrument system disclosed is particularly useful for endoscopic procedures. In the preferred embodiment, a hemostatic clip applicator can be directly connected to a trigger assembly or indirectly connected to the trigger assembly through the use of an extension. The connection between the extension and the clip applicator is secured to prevent accidental release during the procedure. The applicator receives a longitudinal input and translates the input into relative component motion through the use of gearing to apply the clips. The handle stem assembly in an alternative embodiment has a drive rod configuration that connects to a closure member so as not only to provide the distal biasing force, but also to provide, if needed, a proximal pulling force to assist in release of the jaw if it becomes necessary.
1516 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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joining a handle assembly to a cartridge assembly; operatively connecting a single operating member in said handle assembly to a closure member or a feeder in said cartridge assembly; operatively connecting said closure member to a clip feeder in said cartridge assembly such that movement of said closure member in one direction results in movement of said feeder in an opposite direction; selectively driving one of said closure member or feeder in a proximal or distal direction substantially in tandem with said single operating member which in turn actuates reverse movement of the other; forming a clip with distal movement of said closure member; and feeding a new clip with proximal movement of said closure member. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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2. A method of forming clips comprising:
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feeding a clip into a jaw with a feeder; forming a clip by closing a jaw with a closure member; driving said feeder in an opposite direction from said closure member; using a rotatable member for creation of said opposed movement; retracting said closure member allowing said jaw to open; driving said feeder into said jaw when no more clips remain to be fed; and releasing said feeder from said rotating member during said driving step. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A clip forming apparatus comprising:
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a cartridge assembly further comprising; a housing; means in said housing for storing clips, further comprising a feeder; means in said housing for forming clips; said means for forming further comprising; a closure member; a jaw operably connected to said closure member; means for mounting said closure member to said feeder within said cartridge assembly such that movement of said closure member in one direction results in movement of said feeder in an opposite direction; a handle assembly further comprising; a single movably mounted operating member; actuating means for selective movement of said operating member; said handle assembly releasably mounted to said cartridge assembly; and said single operating member operatively engaged to one of said closure member or said feeder when said handle assembly is selectively connected to said cartridge assembly for urging one of said closure member or said feeder selectively in two opposed directions to feed and form a clip. - View Dependent Claims (5, 15, 16)
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10. An apparatus for forming clips comprising:
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a housing; an actuator connected to said housing; at least one clip stored in said housing; a feeder in said housing for feeding said clip; a reciprocating closure member in said housing; said feeder operably connected to said closure member in said housing for selective opposed operation responsive to application of a force to said feeder or said closure member by said actuator; a jaw movable responsive to said closure member for forming a clip after said feeder has fed the clip and been retracted from within said jaw; and said feeder movable into said jaw to prevent operation thereof after the last clip in said housing has been formed by said jaw. - View Dependent Claims (11, 21, 22)
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12. A clip forming apparatus comprising:
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a cartridge assembly further comprising; a housing; means in said housing for storing clips; means in said housing for forming clips; said means for forming further comprising; a closure member; a jaw; said closure member movably mounted to said jaw; and a handle assembly further comprising; a movably mounted operating member; actuating means for selective movement of said operating member; said handle assembly releasably mounted to said cartridge assembly; said operating member operatively engaged to said closure member when said handle assembly is selectively connected to said cartridge assembly for urging said closure member selectively in two directions for opening and closing said jaw; said closure member has a proximal end formed having an opening, said opening proximally oriented; at least one detent on said closure member oriented into said opening; said operating member when assembled into said cartridge assembly operably engageable to said detent for applying a force thereto; said operating member is operably engageable with said detent to apply a force in proximal direction to said closure member to urge it away from said jaw thereby facilitating opening of said jaw; said operating member also abuts said closure member in said opening to urge it distally for closing said jaw; said cartridge assembly housing refines an opening formed at its proximal end to accept said operating member into said opening in said closure member;
p1 alignment means on said cartridge and handle assembly to facilitate a first orientation therebetween as said cartridge and handle assemblies are selectively joined together;said operating member aligned with said openings in said housing and said closure member as a result of said alignment created by said alignment means; securing means on said handle assembly to secure attachment between said handle and cartridge assembly, said securing means operable with said alignment means for selectively securing said handle and cartridge means in a second orientation; rotation of said cartridge assembly while engaged to said alignment means orients said cartridge and handle assemblies in said second orientation; said operating member formed to clear past said detent in a first position to enter said opening in said closure member; and said rotation reorienting said operating member from a first position where it clears past said detent to enter said opening in said closure member, to a second position where said operating member is at least in part positioned transverse to said detent to allow application of force in a proximal direction for opening said jaw by contact of said operating member with said detent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 17)
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18. A clip forming apparatus comprising:
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a cartridge assembly further comprising; a housing; means in said housing for storing clips; means in said housing for forming clips; said means for forming further comprising; a closure member; a jaw; said closure member movably mounted to said jaw; a handle assembly further comprising; a movably mounted operating member; actuating means for selective movement of said operating member; said handle assembly releasably mounted to said cartridge assembly; said operating member operatively engaged to said closure member when said handle assembly is selectively connected to said cartridge assembly for urging said closure member selectively in two directions for opening and closing said jaw; said means for forming further comprises a feeder mounted for selective reciprocal operation; said feeder operably engaged to said closure member for selective opposed movement with respect to said closure member during at least a portion of the time when said operating member causes movement of said closure member; said cartridge assembly further comprises; a rotatably mounted member connected between said feeder and said closure member further comprising at least one rounded element to effect a reversal of motion therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (19, 23)
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24. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising the steps of:
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joining a handle assembly to a cartridge assembly; operatively connecting a operating member in said handle assembly to a closure member in said cartridge assembly; operatively connecting said closure member to a clip feeder for reverse movements therebetween; selectively driving said closure member in a proximal or distal direction substantially in tandem with said operating member; forming a clip with distal movement of said closure member; feeding a new clip with proximal movement of said closure member; said operably connecting step for said operating member is accomplished in said joining step; said operably connecting said closure member to said feeder further comprising; providing gearing between said closure member and said feeder; and disposing said closure member and said feeder on opposed sides of said gearing. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A clip forming apparatus comprising:
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a cartridge assembly further comprising; a housing; means in said housing for storing clips; means in said housing for forming clips; said means for forming further comprising; a closure member; a jaw; said closure member movably mounted to said jaw; and a handle assembly further comprising; a movably mounted operating member; actuating means for selective movement of said operating member; said handle assembly releasably mounted to said cartridge assembly; said operating member operatively engaged to said closure member when said handle assembly is selectively connected to said cartridge assembly for urging said closure member selectively in two directions for opening and closing said jaw; said means for forming further comprises a feeder mounted for selective reciprocal operation; said feeder operably engaged to said closure member for selective opposed movement with respect to said closure member during at least a portion of the time when said operating member causes movement of said closure member; and said feeder is selectively disengageable from said engagement to said closure member for movement into said jaw when said means for storing clips becomes empty.
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27. An apparatus for forming clips comprising:
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a housing; at least one clip stored in said housing; a reciprocating closure member in said housing; a jaw movable responsive to said closure member for forming a clip; said feeder movable into said jaw to prevent closure thereof after the last clip in said housing has been formed by said jaw; said feeder and said closure member are operatively engaged for opposed movement; said operative engagement being defeated upon movement of said feeder into said jaw; said feeder and said closure member are operatively engaged for opposed movement; said operative engagement being defeated upon movement of said feeder into said jaw; said housing comprises a rotatably mounted member connected on opposed sides to said feeder and said closure member; and whereupon discharge of the last of said at least one clip, proximal movement of said closure member creates opposed distal movement of said feeder and propels said feeder away from said rotatably mounted member, disabling said feeder from further movement by said rotatably mounted member.
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28. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein:
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said feeder is formed having a rack on the proximal end thereof; said rotatably mounted member comprises at least one gear selectively engageable to said rack on said feeder; said jaw stopping a clip ahead of said feeder while its rack is still engaged to said gear; and said feeder advancing into said jaw when no clip is disposed in front of it as a result of a distal force from said gear of said rack of said feeder resulting in said rack becoming disconnected from said gear. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification