Grasping clip applier
DCFirst Claim
1. An endoscopic clip applier for applying a surgical clip to at least one object in a surgical procedure, said clip applier comprising:
- an elongated hollow outer body having a proximal end and a distal end;
an elongated inner member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial passageway, said inner member being slidably disposed in said outer body;
a first actuating mechanism connected to the proximal end of the outer body and the proximal end of the inner member, the actuating mechanism being operable to slide the inner member within the outer body;
a surgical clip disposed in the axial passageway of the inner member;
an operating assembly coupled to the distal end of the inner member and including a pair of opposing jaw members each having a guide slot for receiving a clip as it is moved distally from within the axial passageway of the inner member, each of said guide slots transitioning distally into a progressively inwardly protruding lip portion; and
a second actuating mechanism coupled to said outer body for moving the clip from the axial passageway of said inner member into said guide slots and toward the progressively inwardly protruding lip portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical clip applier for use in applying ligation as well as fixation surgical clips or fasteners to a vessel or other tissue at a surgical site. The clip applier includes an elongated hollow outer body having a proximal end attached to an actuating mechanism and a distal end. A pair of generally opposing jaws are coupled to the distal end of the outer body and are configured with guide slots for receiving a surgical clip. Means are provided for advancing a clip from within the outer body into the guide slots. Movement of the actuating mechanism moves the jaws between an open position, a first closed position and a second and fully closed position. The jaws are placed over a section of tissue and closed to the first closed position such that the tissue is compressed. The clip site is tested for proper ligation, and if acceptable, a clip is advanced into the jaw members. A pair of shims are moved distally within the elongated outer body and inserted between the guide slots and the clip such that the clip is compressed over the tissue. The jaws are then moved to the second closed position to fully compress the clip over the tissue and the shims withdrawn. A V-shaped surgical clip of the present invention is provided in a semi-closed configuration to minimize the required overall outer diameter or width of the surgical clip applier.
461 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An endoscopic clip applier for applying a surgical clip to at least one object in a surgical procedure, said clip applier comprising:
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an elongated hollow outer body having a proximal end and a distal end; an elongated inner member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial passageway, said inner member being slidably disposed in said outer body; a first actuating mechanism connected to the proximal end of the outer body and the proximal end of the inner member, the actuating mechanism being operable to slide the inner member within the outer body; a surgical clip disposed in the axial passageway of the inner member; an operating assembly coupled to the distal end of the inner member and including a pair of opposing jaw members each having a guide slot for receiving a clip as it is moved distally from within the axial passageway of the inner member, each of said guide slots transitioning distally into a progressively inwardly protruding lip portion; and a second actuating mechanism coupled to said outer body for moving the clip from the axial passageway of said inner member into said guide slots and toward the progressively inwardly protruding lip portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of applying a surgical clip to at least one object in a surgical procedure using an endoscopic clip applier including an elongate body having an actuating mechanism connected to a proximal end and a pair of opposing jaw members positioned at a distal end, each jaw member having a guide slot for receiving a clip from within the elongate body, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning the clip applier within the patient such that the jaw members are adjacent the object to be clipped; opening the jaw members; orienting the clip applier such that the jaw members pass over the tissue; manipulating the jaw members to move the object to a compressed state within the jaw members; and following the manipulating step, advancing the clip distally into the slots of the jaw members to an operative position over the object in the compressed state to maintain the object in the compressed state; and after the first advancing step, locking the clip in the operative position with the object in the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for applying a surgical clip to at least one object in a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscopic clip applier including an elongated body containing at least one clip and having a proximal end attached to an actuating mechanism and an operating assembly supported at a distal end, said operating assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members operable between an open position and a closed position, each jaw member having a guide slot extending along an inner surface for receiving the clip, said slots being sufficiently deep that the clip can be moved distally from the elongated body into said slots while said operating assembly is in said closed position; positioning the clip applier adjacent the object to be clipped; operating the operating assembly to move the jaws to the open position; manipulating the clip applier within the patient such that the jaw members pass over and generally surround the object; moving the jaw members to the closed position such that the object is grasped within the jaw members and moved to a compressed state; and advancing a clip distally along the guide slots of the jaw members after moving the jaw members to the closed position such that the clip substantially surrounds the object to maintain the object in the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical clip applier having a longitudinal configuration and extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the applier comprising:
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an actuating mechanism disposed at the distal end of the surgical clip applier; an operating assembly disposed at the distal end of the surgical clip applier; opposing jaw members included in the operating assembly at the distal end, the jaws having an open state and a closed state; portions of the applier defining a guide slot extending between the actuating mechanism at the proximal end and the operating assembly at the distal end; a plurality of clips movably disposed in the guide slot in a predetermined configuration; a clip advancement member operable from the proximal end of the surgical clip applier to advance at least one of the clips in the predetermined configuration into the jaws; and the jaws being in the closed state to receive the advancing clip in the predetermined configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for applying a clip to an object in a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscopic clip applier having an elongate body holding at least one clip, the body having a proximal end with an actuating mechanism and a distal end with a pair of opposing jaw members movable by operation of the actuating mechanism; compressing the object to a compressed state by moving the jaws of the applier; moving the clip from the body of the applier into the jaws of the applier when the object is in the compressed state; and removing the clip applier from the object leaving the clip to hold the object in the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. The method for applying a clip to an object in a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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providing an endoscopic clip applier having an elongate body with an actuating mechanism disposed at a proximal end of the body and a pair of opposing jaw members disposed at a distal end of the body; storing a clip having in a stored configuration a pair of legs extending longitudinally of the body; compressing the object from a first thickness to a second thickness; moving the clip from the body into the jaws and generally around the compressed object, the clip in the jaws having a loaded configuration substantially the same as the stored configuration. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for applying a clip to an object in a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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providing a clip applier having an elongate body holding at least one clip, the body having a proximal end with an actuating mechanism operable by an actuating force, and distal end with a pair of opposing jaw members; compressing the object by operation of the jaws without moving the clip; advancing the clip into the jaws without changing the shape of the clip and without moving the jaws; during the compressing step, directing substantially all of the actuating force to compress the object; and during the advancing step, directing substantially all of the actuating force to advance the clip.
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Specification