clip applicator system

• US 5,634,930 A
• Filed: 03/14/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Medical Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pilling Weck Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Speaks, Elise P., Ruckdeschel, Thomas W., Thornton, Curtis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAWSON, GLENN K
• Application Number:
  US08/405,449
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/143, 606/174, 227/91
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments

Abstract

A hemostatic clip applicator system which is particularly useful for endoscopic procedures. 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.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle component;

a cartridge component comprising an elongated tubular body;

said handle component comprising an actuating member mounted therein for selective reciprocal proximal and distal movements along a longitudinal axis thereof;

said body having a longitudinal axis, and further comprising;

a clip feeder;

a closure member;

said clip feeder connected to said closure member by a direction reversing mechanism at a first location within said body for selective movements so that when said clip feeder moves in a first direction, said closure member can move in a second direction which is opposite said first direction;

one of said feeder and said clip closure member separately connected to said actuating member, which when said one of said clip feeder and said closure member moves in a first direction results in the other of said clip feeder and closure member which is not connected to said actuator member moving in an opposite direction from said first direction by virtue of said direction reversing mechanism, for feeding and forming clips.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein:

said cartridge component is selectively disengageable from said handle component.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein:

said actuating member releasably engages one of said clip feeder or said closure member as a direct result of securing said cartridge component to said handle component.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein said direction reversing mechanism further comprises:

a connection which converts linear motion of one of one of said clip feeder and said closure member into reverse linear motion of the other of said clip feeder and said closure member through the use of at least one interconnecting rotating member.

5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein:

said interconnecting rotating member comprises at least one rounded member rotating in at least one plane to connect said closure member and said clip feeder for opposed movement.

6. The instrument of claim 5, wherein said interconnecting rotating member further comprises:

at least two rounded members rotating in different planes on the same axis, where one rounded member is connected to said clip feeder and the other to said closure member.

7. The instrument of claim 6, wherein:

said rounded members have different diameters for producing different opposed movement of said clip feeder and said closure member.

8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein:

the cartridge component can at different times be used to accommodate clips requiring different amounts of said opposed movement, by selective variation in the relative dimensions between said rounded members for each such occasion.

9. The instrument of claim 5, wherein:

said interconnecting rotating member comprises at least one gear;

at least one rack disposed on one of said clip feeder and said closure member which meshes with said gear for reverse motion between said clip feeder and said closure member.

10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein:

said clip feeder and said closure member are stacked in said cartridge component;

said clip feeder and said closure member each comprising a rack, said racks facing each other in parallel planes;

said interconnecting rotating member comprises a single spindle on which a plurality of said at least one gear are concentrically mounted, said spindle extending transversely to said parallel planes.

11. The instrument of claim 2, wherein:

said handle component and said cartridge component forming a connection which can be formed and released by virtue of a plurality of movements of said cartridge component in different planes.

12. The instrument of claim 11, wherein:

said cartridge component is selectively engageable and disengageable from said handle component by a combination of a linear movement relative to said handle component along said longitudinal axis and a rotational movement relative to said handle component.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said direction reversing mechanism further comprises:

a connection which converts linear motion of one of said clip feeder and said closure member into reverse linear motion of the other of said clip feeder and said closure member through the use of at least one interconnecting rotating member.

14. The instrument of claim 13, wherein:

said interconnecting rotating member comprises at least one rounded member rotating in at least one plane to connect said closure member and said clip feeder for opposed movement.

15. The instrument of claim 14, wherein said interconnecting rotating member further comprises:

at least two rounded members rotating in different planes on the same axis, where one rounded member is connected to said clip feeder and the other to said closure member.

16. The instrument of claim 15, wherein:

said rounded members have different diameters for producing different opposed movement of said clip feeder and said closure member.

17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein:

the same cartridge component can at different times be used to accommodate clips requiring different amounts of said opposed movement, by selective variation in the relative dimensions between said rounded members for each such occasion.

18. The instrument of claim 16, wherein:

said interconnecting rotating member comprises at least one gear;

at least one rack disposed on one of said clip feeder and said closure member which meshes with said gear for reverse motion between said clip feeder and said closure member.

19. The instrument of claim 18, wherein:

said clip feeder and said closure member are stacked in said cartridge component;

said clip feeder and said closure member each comprising a rack, said racks facing each other in parallel planes;

said interconnecting rotating member comprises a single spindle on which a plurality of said at least one gear are concentrically mounted, said spindle extending transversely to said parallel planes.