Surgical clip applier
First Claim
1. A clip application assembly for application of a surgical clip to body tissue, said assembly comprising:
- an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends, said housing defining a clip feed surface adjacent said distal end;
a jaw apparatus extending from said distal end of said housing and including at least one jaw tip;
a clip driver disposed within said housing for advancing the surgical clip from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus; and
a backing surface extending from said distal end of said housing and bearing against a portion of said jaw apparatus to contact and pre-load said jaw apparatus thereby maintaining said jaw apparatus in alignment with said clip feed surface such that the surgical clip can be properly advanced from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical clip applier for application of surgical clips to body tissue is disclosed. The clip applier includes an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends. This housing also defines a feed surface for the surgical clips. The clip applier also includes first and second jaws extending from the distal end of the housing. The jaws open and close to apply the surgical clips to the body tissue of the patient. A driver is disposed within the housing to advance the surgical clips from the feed surface to the jaws. The clip applier of the present invention incorporates a backing surface extending from the distal end of the housing and extending along the jaws. Accordingly, the backing surface bears against the jaws by constantly applying a force such that the housing is always pre-loaded against the jaws. As such, the jaws are maintained in proper alignment with the feed surface and the surgical clips can be advanced from the feed surface to the jaws without a misfeed.
1022 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A clip application assembly for application of a surgical clip to body tissue, said assembly comprising:
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an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends, said housing defining a clip feed surface adjacent said distal end;
a jaw apparatus extending from said distal end of said housing and including at least one jaw tip;
a clip driver disposed within said housing for advancing the surgical clip from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus; and
a backing surface extending from said distal end of said housing and bearing against a portion of said jaw apparatus to contact and pre-load said jaw apparatus thereby maintaining said jaw apparatus in alignment with said clip feed surface such that the surgical clip can be properly advanced from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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2. A clip application assembly for application of a surgical clip to body tissue, said assembly comprising:
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an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends, said housing defining a clip feed surface adjacent said distal end;
a jaw apparatus extending from said distal end of said housing and including at least one jaw tip;
a clip driver disposed within said housing for advancing the surgical clip from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus; and
a backing surface extending from said distal end of said housing and bearing against a portion of said jaw apparatus to contact and pre-load said jaw apparatus thereby maintaining said jaw apparatus in alignment with said clip feed surface such that the surgical clip can be properly advanced from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus, wherein said backing surface includes a raised abutment surface projecting from said backing surface toward said jaw apparatus to provide said contacting and said preloading of said jaw apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A clip application assembly for application of a surgical clip to body tissue, said assembly comprising:
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an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends, said housing defining a clip feed surface adjacent said distal end;
a jaw apparatus extending from said distal end of said housing and including at least one jaw tip and at least one jaw shoulder between said distal end of said housing and said at least one jaw tip;
a clip driver disposed within said housing for advancing the surgical clip from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus; and
a backing surface extending from said distal end of said housing and bearing against a portion of said jaw apparatus to contact and preload said jaw apparatus thereby maintaining said jaw apparatus in alignment with said clip feed surface such that the surgical clip can be properly advanced from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus, wherein said backing surface includes a contoured portion contoured around said jaw shoulder such that said backing surface does not contact said jaw shoulder and bears against said portion of said jaw apparatus after said jaw shoulder toward said at least one jaw tip. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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22. A clip application assembly comprising:
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a surgical clip for application to body tissue;
an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends, said housing defining a clip feed surface adjacent said distal end;
a jaw apparatus extending from said distal end of said housing and including at least one jaw tip;
a clip driver disposed within said housing for advancing said surgical clip from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus; and
a backing surface extending from said distal end of said housing and bearing against a portion of said jaw apparatus to contact and pre-load said jaw apparatus thereby maintaining said jaw apparatus in alignment with said clip feed surface such that said surgical clip can be properly advanced from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus.
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23. A clip application assembly for application of a surgical clip to body tissue, said assembly comprising:
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an elongated housing having proximate and distal ends, said housing defining a clip feed surface adjacent said distal end;
a jaw apparatus extending from said distal end of said housing and including at least one jaw tip;
a clip driver disposed within said housing for advancing the surgical clip from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus; and
a backing surface extending from said distal end of said housing and bearing against a portion of said jaw apparatus to contact said jaw apparatus adjacent said at least one jaw tip and to pre-load said jaw apparatus thereby maintaining said jaw apparatus in alignment with said clip feed surface such that the surgical clip can be properly advanced from said clip feed surface to said jaw apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification