Multifunctional spring clips and cartridges and applications therefor
First Claim
1. A multifunctional clip for use in endoscopic and open operative procedures comprisinga body having first and second opposed portions and a base connecting said first and second opposed portions, said first opposed portion including a first outer segment having a proximal end connected to said base and having a distal end, a first inner segment having a distal end connected to said distal end of said first outer segment and extending proximally toward said base, said second opposed portion including a second outer segment having a proximal end connected to said base and having a distal end, a second inner segment having a distal end connected to said distal end of said second outer segment and extending proximally toward said base such that each of said inner segments is disposed between said outer segments, said first inner segment having a first outwardly facing surface facing said first outer segment and a first inwardly facing surface opposite said first outwardly facing surface, said second inner segment having a second outwardly facing surface facing said second outer segment and a second inwardly facing surface facing said first inwardly facing surface such that said first and second inwardly facing surfaces define first and second grasping surfaces, respectively, for grasping a structure therebetween, at least one of said opposed portions having a retaining member extending distally from a proximal end of said inner segment of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining member having a retaining segment in contact with said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion and a ramp segment extending from said retaining segment to an end in contact with said outwardly facing surface of said at least one opposed portion such that a passage for slidably receiving a structure is defined in said at least one opposed portion distally of said ramp segment, said retaining segment being movable away from said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to receive the structure from said passage between said retaining segment and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining segment being movable toward said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to fixedly grasp the structure between said retaining segment and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multifunctional clip for use in endoscopic and open operative procedures comprising
a body having first and second opposed portions and a base connecting said first and second opposed portions, said first opposed portion including a first outer segment having a proximal end connected to said base and having a distal end, a first inner segment having a distal end connected to said distal end of said first outer segment and extending proximally toward said base, said second opposed portion including a second outer segment having a proximal end connected to said base and having a distal end, a second inner segment having a distal end connected to said distal end of said second outer segment and extending proximally toward said base such that each of said inner segments is disposed between said outer segments, said first inner segment having a first outwardly facing surface facing said first outer segment and a first inwardly facing surface opposite said first outwardly facing surface, said second inner segment having a second outwardly facing surface facing said second outer segment and a second inwardly facing surface facing said first inwardly facing surface such that said first and second inwardly facing surfaces define first and second grasping surfaces, respectively, for grasping a structure therebetween, at least one of said opposed portions having a retaining member extending distally from a proximal end of said inner segment of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining member having a retaining segment in contact with said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion and a ramp segment extending from said retaining segment to an end in contact with said outwardly facing surface of said at least one opposed portion such that a passage for slidably receiving a structure is defined in said at least one opposed portion distally of said ramp segment, said retaining segment being movable away from said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to receive the structure from said passage between said retaining segment and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining segment being movable toward said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to fixedly grasp the structure between said retaining segment and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion.
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9. A multifunctional clip for use in endoscopic and open operative procedures comprising
a spherical body having partial spherical first and second opposed portions connected to one another at proximal ends of said first and second opposed portions, said first opposed portion including a partial spherical first outer segment, a planar first inner segment extending from a distal end of said first outer segment toward said proximal end of said first opposed portion, said second opposed portion including a partial spherical second outer segment, a planar second inner segment extending from a distal end of said second outer segment toward said proximal end of said second opposed portion such that said first and second inner segments are disposed within said spherical body, said first inner segment having a first outwardly facing surface facing said first outer segment and a first inwardly facing surface facing said second inner segment, said second inner segment having a second outwardly facing surface facing said second outer segment and a second inwardly facing surface facing said first inwardly facing surface such that said first and second inwardly facing surfaces define first and second grasping surfaces, respectively, for grasping a structure therebetween, at least one of said opposed portions having a curved retaining segment extending distally from a proximal end of said inner segment of said at least one opposed portion and a planar ramp segment extending angularly, distally from a distal end of said retaining segment toward said outwardly facing surface of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining segment being biased into contact with said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion with a passage being defined in said at least one opposed portion distally of said ramp segment for slidably receiving a structure through said at least one opposed portion, said retaining segment being movable away from said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion in response to movement of the structure from said passage along said ramp segment and between said retaining segment and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion such that the structure is grasped between said retaining segment and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to fixedly secure said clip thereto.
- 15. In combination, a multifunctional clip and suture material for use in suturing in endoscopic and open operative procedures, said clip comprising a body having first and second opposed portions connected to one another at proximal ends of said first and second opposed portions, said first opposed portion including a first outer segment, a first inner segment extending from a distal end of said first outer segment toward said proximal end of said first opposed portion, said second opposed portion including a second outer segment, a second inner segment extending from a distal end of said second outer segment toward said proximal end of said second opposed portion, said first and second inner segments each being disposed between said first and second outer segments with said first and second outer and inner segments in alignment with one another, said first inner segment having a first outwardly facing surface facing said first outer segment and a first inwardly facing surface facing said second inner segment, said second inner segment having a second outwardly facing surface facing said second outer segment and a second inwardly facing surface facing said first inwardly facing surface such that said first and second inwardly facing surfaces define first and second grasping surfaces, respectively, at least one of said opposed portions having a retaining member extending distally from a proximal end of said inner segment of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining member being disposed between said outer and inner segments of said at least one opposed portions in alignment with said outer and inner segments of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining member being biased into contact with said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion, said at least one opposed portion having a passage therethrough adjacent said retaining member, said passage extending transverse to said retaining member, said suture material comprising a length of filamentous suture material slidably disposed in said passage such that said clip is movable longitudinally along said length of suture material, said retaining member being movable away from said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to receive a segment of said length of suture material from said passage between said retaining member and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion, said retaining member being movable toward said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to grasp said segment of said length of suture material between said retaining member and said outer segment of said at least one opposed portion to fixedly secure said clip on said length of suture material, said clip being movable from a closed position to an open position to receive another segment of said length of suture material between said first and second grasping surfaces and from said open position toward said closed position to grasp said another segment of said length of suture material between said first and second grasping surfaces.
Specification