Multifunctional spring clips and cartridges and applicators therefor

• US 5,695,505 A
• Filed: 03/09/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): RASCHE, PATRICK WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/401,002
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/157, 606/158, 606/120, 606/139, 128/843, 227/901, 227/902, 29/243.5, 29/243.56, 267/53, 140/82, 24/455, 24/501, 24/511, 24/533, 24/545, 24/546, 24/547, 33/DIG. 16
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128

Abstract

A multifunctional spring clip for use in endoscopic and open operative procedures includes a body having opposed portions and a base connecting the opposed portions. Each opposed portion includes an outer segment and an inner segment connected to the outer segment and carrying a grasping surface. The clip is normally disposed in a grasping position wherein the grasping surfaces are biased toward one another, is movable from the grasping position to a receiving position wherein the grasping surfaces are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween and is movable from the receiving position toward the grasping position due to the bias to grasp the structure between the grasping surfaces. An applicator for the multifunctional spring clip includes a distal end carrying forceps for engaging the opposed portions of the clip. The forceps engage the clip in the grasping position and are movable from a closed position to an open position to move the clip from the grasping position to the receiving position to receive the structure between the grasping surfaces. The forceps are movable from the open position to the closed position to permit the clip to move from the receiving position toward the grasping position to grip the structure between the grasping surfaces. A cartridge storing a plurality of multifunctional spring clips is insertable in the applicator for selectively releasing one of the clips from the cartridge into engagement with the forceps.

Claims

1. A multifunctional clip for use in endoscopic and open operative procedures comprising

a body having first and second opposed portions, said first opposed portion including an outer segment and an inner segment connected with said outer segment, said second opposed portion including an outer segment and an inner segment connected with said outer segment of said second opposed portion, a curved first connecting segment connecting said inner segment of said first opposed portion to said outer segment of said first opposed portion, a curved second connecting segment connecting said inner segment of said second opposed portion to said outer segment of said second opposed portion, a first grasping surface carried by said inner segment of said first opposed portion, a second grasping surface carried by said inner segment of said second opposed portion, and a curved base connecting said first and second opposed portions with said inner segments disposed between said outer segments, said first and second connecting segments each curving in a direction opposite the direction of curvature of said base, said multifunctional clip being biased to a grasping position wherein said first and second grasping surfaces are urged toward one another, being movable to a receiving position wherein said first and second grasping surfaces are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween in response to an opening force applied to said multifunctional clip and being movable from said receiving position toward said grasping position due to said bias to grasp the structure between said grasping surfaces in response to removal of the opening force, said multifunctional clip including a distal end, one of said first and second connecting segments overlapping the other of said first and second connecting segments at said distal end in said grasping position.

2. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end carrying forceps including first and second forceps members movable between a closed position and an open position and a clip mounted at said distal end of said applicator and including a base, first and second opposed portions connected to one another by said base, said first opposed portion including a first outer segment having a proximal end connected to said base and a first inner segment connected to a distal end of said first outer segment, said first inner segment extending lengthwise in a proximal direction from said distal end of said first outer segment in the direction of said base, said second opposed portion including a second outer segment having a proximal end connected to said base and a second inner segment connected to a distal end of said second outer segment, said second inner segment extending lengthwise in said proximal direction from said distal end of said second outer segment in said direction of said base, said inner segments extending lengthwise between said outer segments and defining grasping surfaces along the lengths of said inner segments, respectively, said first and second opposed portions being biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position wherein said grasping surfaces are in contact with one another, said first and second forceps members engaging said distal ends of said first and second outer segments with said forceps members in said closed position, said first and second forceps members being movable, with said forceps members in engagement with said distal ends of said outer segments, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said grasping surfaces are moved away from one another in a direction outwardly of said longitudinal axis to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said grasping surfaces, said applicator including means for moving said forceps members between said open and closed positions from said proximal end of said applicator.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said forceps members are biased to be normally disposed in said open position and said applicator includes means for selectively maintaining said forceps members in said closed position to engage said distal ends of said outer segments.

4. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second forceps members include clip engaging members for engaging said distal ends of said outer segments, respectively, and said clip includes means for engaging said clip engaging members.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said clip engaging members include hook members on said first and second forceps members and said means for engaging include notches in said distal ends of said outer segments for receiving said book members.

6. The combination recited in claim 2 and further including a clip cartridge disposed in said clip applicator and storing a plurality of said clips in end to end relationship, said clip cartridge including a distal end, a proximal end and means at said proximal end of said clip cartridge for selectively releasing one of said clips from said distal end of said clip cartridge into engagement with said first and second forceps members.

7. The combination recited in claim 2 and further including imaging means formed integrally, unitarily with said clip applicator.

8. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end carrying forceps movable between a closed position and an open position and a clip mounted at said distal end of said applicator and including first and second opposed portions connected to one another, said first opposed portion including a first outer segment and a first inner segment connected to said first outer segment, said second opposed portion including a second outer segment and a second inner segment connected to said second outer segment, said first and second opposed portions being biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position, said forceps including first and second forceps members for engaging said first and second opposed portions, said forceps being movable, with said forceps members in engagement with said first and second opposed portions, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said first and second opposed portions are moved away from one another in a direction outwardly of said longitudinal axis to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said first and second opposed portions, said applicator including means for moving said forceps between said open and closed positions from said proximal end of said applicator and grasping members extending distally beyond said first and second forceps members.

9. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end carrying forceps movable between a closed position and an open position and a clip mounted at said distal end of said applicator and including first and second opposed portions connected to one another, said first opposed portion including a first outer segment and a first inner segment connected to said first outer segment, said second opposed portion including a second outer segment and a second inner segment connected to said second outer segment, said first and second opposed portions being biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position, said forceps including first and second forceps members for engaging said first and second opposed portions, said forceps being movable, with said forceps members in engagement with said first and second opposed portions, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said first and second opposed portions are moved away from one another in a direction outwardly of said longitudinal axis to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said first and second opposed portions, said clip being movable from said grasping position to a locked position wherein said first and second outer segments are moved inwardly toward one another from said grasping position, said applicator including means for moving said forceps between said open and closed positions from said proximal end of said applicator and means for moving said first and second forceps members inwardly toward one another from said closed position in the direction of said longitudinal axis to move said clip from said grasping position to said locked position.

10. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, forceps members at said distal end movable between a closed position and an open position and a clip mounted at said distal end including first and second opposed portions biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position, said forceps members including clip engaging means for engaging said first and second opposed portions, said clip engaging means being movable from an engaged position wherein said clip engaging means are engaged with said first and second opposed portions to a release position wherein said clip engaging means are disengaged from said first and second opposed portions, said forceps members being movable, with said clip engaging means in said engaged position, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said first and second opposed portions are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said first and second opposed portions, said applicator including means at said proximal end for moving said forceps members between said open and closed positions and means at said proximal end for moving said clip engaging means longitudinally, distally from said engaged position to said release position to release said clip from said applicator, said forceps members each having a distal portion carrying said clip engaging means and a proximal portion connected to said distal portion, said distal portions being movable longitudinally, distally relative to said proximal portions of said forceps members from said engaged position to said release position.

11. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, forceps members at said distal end movable between a closed position and an open position, a clip mounted at said distal end including first and second opposed portions biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position and a cartridge disposed in said applicator and storing a plurality of said clips, said forceps members including clip engaging means for engaging said first and second opposed portions, said clip engaging means being movable from an engaged position wherein said clip engaging means are engaged with said first and second opposed portions to a release position wherein said clip engaging means are disengaged from said first and second opposed portions, said forceps members being movable, with said clip engaging means in said engaged position, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said first and second opposed portions are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said first and second opposed portions, said applicator including means at said proximal end for moving said forceps members between said open and closed positions, said cartridge including a distal end positioned proximally adjacent said clip mounted at said distal end of said applicator and means at said proximal end of said applicator for selectively moving said cartridge proximally relative to said applicator to move said distal end of said cartridge proximally to create a space proximally of said clip mounted at said distal end of said applicator whereby said applicator can be moved distally relative to said clip mounted at said distal end of said applicator to move said clip engaging means from said engaged position to said release position.

12. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, forceps members at said distal end movable between a closed position and an open position and a clip mounted at said distal end including first and second opposed portions biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position, said forceps members including clip engaging means for engaging said first and second opposed portions, said clip engaging means being movable from an engaged position wherein said clip engaging means are engaged with said first and second opposed portions to a release position wherein said clip engaging means are disengaged from said first and second opposed portions, said clip engaging means being pivotally mounted for movement outwardly from said engaged position to said release position, said forceps members being movable, with said clip engaging means in said engaged position, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said first and second opposed portions are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said first and second opposed portions, said applicator including means at said proximal end for moving said forceps members between said open and closed positions and means at said proximal end for moving said clip engaging means from said engaged position to said release position to release said clip from said applicator.

13. In combination, an elongate applicator having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, forceps at said distal end movable between a closed position and an open position and a clip mounted at said distal end including first and second opposed portions biased toward one another to be normally disposed in a grasping position, said forceps including clip engaging means for engaging said first and second opposed portions, said clip engaging means being movable from an engaged position wherein said clip engaging means are engaged with said first and second opposed portions to a release position wherein said clip engaging means are disengaged from said first and second opposed portions, said forceps being movable, with said clip engaging means in said engaged position, from said closed position to said open position to move said clip from said grasping position to a receiving position wherein said first and second opposed portions are moved away from one another to receive a structure therebetween and from said open position to said closed position to permit said clip to move from said receiving position toward said grasping position to grip the structure between said first and second opposed portions, said applicator including means at said proximal end for moving said forceps between said open and closed positions and means at said proximal end for moving said clip engaging means from said engaged position to said release position to release said clip from said applicator, said first and second opposed portions being movable toward one another from said grasping position to a locked position, said applicator including means for moving said clip from said grasping position to said locked position from said proximal end of said applicator and said clip engaging means moving from said engaged position to said release position in response to movement of said clip from said grasping position to said locked position.