Clip applicator
First Claim
1. A clip applicator adapted to apply and remove C-shaped scalp clips wherein the C-shaped scalp clips each have two legs joined by a resilient bridge and including facing clamping jaws at their free ends and further wherein the bridge includes upper and lower ears adapted to urge the clamping jaws open in response to actuation of said clip applicator, said clip applicator comprising:
- a body;
a trigger movably fastened to said body, said trigger having a trigger first position and a trigger second position relative to said body, wherein said trigger is normally pivotally biased in its said trigger first position by spring means, said trigger comprising (i) means for moving said trigger from its said trigger first position to its said trigger second position, and (ii) a lever-engaging portion;
a lever movably fastened to said body, said lever having a lever first position and a lever second position relative to said body, wherein said lever is normally pivotally biased in its said lever first position by spring means, said lever comprising an elongate beam having a clip-engaging portion disposed at a distal end thereof and a trigger-engaging portion disposed at a proximal end portion thereof, wherein said lever is movable from said lever first position to said lever second position in response to said trigger moving from said trigger first position to said trigger second position, and further wherein said trigger-engaging portion of said lever loosely engages said lever-engaging portion of said trigger such that said clip-engaging portion of said lever is movable relative to said body when said lever is in said lever first position;
a magazine releasably fastened to said body and adapted to store a plurality of clips such that the free ends of the clips rest against the bridge of an adjacent and preceding clip, and to serially dispense the clips from said magazine, said magazine having an open end, said magazine comprising a tube having side walls, means for orienting the clips within said tube such that the free ends of the clips point towards the magazine open end, means for releasably locking the clips within said tube, and a lip projecting into said open end, said lip being shaped so as to be selectively engageable with the upper ear of each of the clips as each clip moves toward said open end, and said magazine being positioned on said body such that said clip-engaging portion of said lever is engageable with the lower ear of each of the clips as each clip moves toward said open end, and further wherein said clip-engaging portion of said lever moves toward said lip when said trigger is moved from said trigger first position toward said trigger second position; and
means for urging the clips toward said open end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A clip applicator adapted to apply and remove C-shaped scalp clips from a surgical incision site, wherein the clip applicator includes a body, a trigger and a lever mounted on the body and mutually operable between respective first and second positions relative to the body. The lever includes a clip-engaging portion disposed at a distal end thereof and a trigger-engaging portion disposed at a proximal end thereof. The lever is movable from the lever first position to the lever second position in response to the trigger moving from a trigger first position to a trigger second position. The clip applicator further includes a magazine that is releasably fastened to the body. The magazine is adapted to store a plurality of clips, and to serially dispense the clips from the magazine.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A clip applicator adapted to apply and remove C-shaped scalp clips wherein the C-shaped scalp clips each have two legs joined by a resilient bridge and including facing clamping jaws at their free ends and further wherein the bridge includes upper and lower ears adapted to urge the clamping jaws open in response to actuation of said clip applicator, said clip applicator comprising:
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a body; a trigger movably fastened to said body, said trigger having a trigger first position and a trigger second position relative to said body, wherein said trigger is normally pivotally biased in its said trigger first position by spring means, said trigger comprising (i) means for moving said trigger from its said trigger first position to its said trigger second position, and (ii) a lever-engaging portion; a lever movably fastened to said body, said lever having a lever first position and a lever second position relative to said body, wherein said lever is normally pivotally biased in its said lever first position by spring means, said lever comprising an elongate beam having a clip-engaging portion disposed at a distal end thereof and a trigger-engaging portion disposed at a proximal end portion thereof, wherein said lever is movable from said lever first position to said lever second position in response to said trigger moving from said trigger first position to said trigger second position, and further wherein said trigger-engaging portion of said lever loosely engages said lever-engaging portion of said trigger such that said clip-engaging portion of said lever is movable relative to said body when said lever is in said lever first position; a magazine releasably fastened to said body and adapted to store a plurality of clips such that the free ends of the clips rest against the bridge of an adjacent and preceding clip, and to serially dispense the clips from said magazine, said magazine having an open end, said magazine comprising a tube having side walls, means for orienting the clips within said tube such that the free ends of the clips point towards the magazine open end, means for releasably locking the clips within said tube, and a lip projecting into said open end, said lip being shaped so as to be selectively engageable with the upper ear of each of the clips as each clip moves toward said open end, and said magazine being positioned on said body such that said clip-engaging portion of said lever is engageable with the lower ear of each of the clips as each clip moves toward said open end, and further wherein said clip-engaging portion of said lever moves toward said lip when said trigger is moved from said trigger first position toward said trigger second position; and means for urging the clips toward said open end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for applying and removing C-shaped scalp clips wherein the C-shaped scalp clips each have two legs joined by a resilient bridge and including facing clamping jaws at their free ends and further wherein the bridge includes upper and lower ears adapted to urge the clamping jaws open, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a clip applicator comprising; a body; a trigger movably fastened to said body, said trigger having a trigger first position and a trigger second position relative to said body, wherein said trigger is normally pivotally biased in its said trigger first position by spring means, said trigger comprising (i) means for moving said trigger from its said trigger first position to its said trigger second position, and (ii) a lever-engaging portion; a lever movably fastened to said body, said lever having a lever first position and a lever second position relative to said body, wherein said lever is normally pivotally biased in its said lever first position by spring means, said lever comprising an elongate beam having a clip-engaging portion disposed at a distal end thereof and a trigger-engaging portion disposed at a proximal end portion thereof, wherein said lever is movable from said lever first position to said lever second position in response to said trigger moving from said trigger first position to said trigger second position, and further wherein said trigger-engaging portion of said lever loosely engages said lever-engaging portion of said trigger such that said clip-engaging portion of said lever is movable relative to said body when said lever is in said lever first position; a magazine releasably fastened to said body and adapted to store a plurality of clips such that the free ends of the clips rest against the bridge of an adjacent and preceding clip, and to serially dispense the clips from said magazine, said magazine having an open end, said magazine comprising a tube having side walls, means for orienting the clips within said tube such that the free ends of the clips point toward the magazine open end, means for releasably locking the clips within said tube, and a lip projecting into said open end, said lip being shaped so as to be selectively engageable with the upper ear of each of the clips as each clip moves toward said open end, and said magazine being positioned on said body such that said clip-engaging portion of said lever is engageable with the lower ear of each of the clips as each clip moves toward said open end, and further wherein said clip-engaging portion of said lever moves toward said lip when said trigger is moved from said trigger first position toward said trigger second position; and means for urging the clips toward said open end; (b) positioning the ears of a first clip adjacent to said clip-engaging portion of said lever and said lip of said magazine; (c) positioning said clamping jaws adjacent to a surgical incision site; (d) moving said trigger from said trigger first position to said trigger second position so that said lever moves from said lever first position to said lever second position whereby said clip-engaging portion of said lever engages the lower ear and said lip engages the upper ear of the clip, thus causing the clamping jaws to spread apart; (e) positioning said open clip so as to overlie tissue at said surgical incision site; and (f) moving said trigger from said trigger second position to said trigger first position so that said lever moves from said lever second position to said lever first position whereby said clip-engaging portion disengages from the ears of the scalp clip, thus allowing the clamping jaws to grip said tissue. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification