Method for blood vessel clip application

• US 6,673,083 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Jervis, James E., Kayan, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/689,208
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 606/142, 606/143
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00429 with a roughened portion

Abstract

A blood vessel clip applicator comprises a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of blood vessel clips therein and two twist pins at one end, whereby the twist pins can be rotated to compress a blood vessel held between them. A blood vessel clip, having a head connected to first and second legs in a “V” configuration, is placed on the blood vessel after it has been flattened. The magazine has a constricted region adjacent to an exit aperture. As the head of a blood vessel clip passes through the constricted region, the compressive force exerted on the head by the constricted region opens or closes the legs of the blood vessel clip. A variety of blood vessel clips having different shapes, cross-sections and grooves are suitable for use with the blood vessel clip applicator.

Claims

1. A method for occluding a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing a blood vessel clip having a head;

providing a blood vessel chip applicator comprising an applicator barrel having a distal end, an exit aperture in said distal end of said applicator barrel, and a constricted region adjacent said exit aperture narrower than said head of said blood vessel clip;

placing said distal end of said applicator barrel adjacent the blood vessel; and

impelling said blood vessel clip through said constricted region onto the blood vessel,

wherein said blood vessel clip comprises substantially annealed metal and has two legs attached to said head forming an angle with one another; and

wherein said impelling step deforms said head to close said blood vessel clip.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of compressing the blood vessel before impelling the blood vessel clip.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood vessel clip includes a plurality of grooves along inner surfaces of the legs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the grooves of the first leg are diagonally opposed to the grooves of the second leg.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood vessel clip is not pretensioned within the blood vessel clip applicator.

6. A method for occluding a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing a blood vessel clip having a head;

providing a blood vessel clip applicator comprising an applicator barrel having a distal end, an exit aperture in said distal end of said applicator barrel, and a constricted region adjacent said exit aperture narrower than said head of said blood vessel clip;

placing said distal end of said applicator barrel adjacent the blood vessel; and

impelling said blood vessel clip through said constricted region onto the blood vessel, wherein said blood vessel clip applicator further comprises a first pin on one side of said exit aperture and a second pin on substantially the opposite side of said exit aperture from said first pin; and

wherein said compressing is performed by trapping the blood vessel between said first pin and said second pin; and

rotating said distal end of said applicator barrel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the blood vessel clip is comprised of a spring-quality material.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of compressing the blood vessel before impelling the blood vessel clip.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the blood vessel clip is comprised of a substantially annealed metal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the blood vessel clip is pretensioned prior to reaching the constricted region.