Endoscopic clip applier with hermaphroditic jaws mounted on non-collinear axes

• US 7,223,272 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kortenbach, Juergen A., Francese, Jose Luis, Palmer, Matthew A., Sixto, Robert Jr., Smith, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GETTMAN, CHRISTINA DANIELLE
• Application Number:
  US10/867,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/143, 606/151, 606/157, 606/205, 606/206, 606/207, 606/208, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/179.1, 600/104
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53478 with magazine supply

Abstract

A clip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is adjacent to the store of clips. The actuator includes a lever for opening and closing the jaws, a knob for rotating the jaw assembly, and a crank for dispensing clips. The knob and the lever are coupled to a single control member which extends through the coil to a joiner where it is joined to a pair of pull wires coupled to the jaws. The crank is coupled to a second control member which is threaded along a portion. The threaded portion engages a threaded member coupled to the pusher such that rotation of the threaded control member by the crank causes the pusher to be moved distally.

Claims

1. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, said control member extending through said flexible tube;

a pair of identical hermaphroditic jaws coupled to said distal end of said tube and said distal end of said control member, and said jaws are rotatably mounted on non-collinear axes;

a plurality of clips adjacent said jaws; and

an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said tube and said proximal end of said control member.

2. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein:

said tube has a longitudinal axis, and

each jaw has a proximal tang and a distal tooth, said tang and said tooth lying on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis.

3. The clip applier according to claim 1, wherein:

an interior of said jaws when closed form an anvil for forming said clips.

4. The clip applier according to claim 3, wherein:

said clips have two opposed tines and said anvil causes said tines to each be bent into an approximate semi-circle.

5. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, said control member extending through said flexible tube;

a pair of identical hermaphroditic jaws coupled to said distal end of said tube on non-collinear axes and said distal end of said control member, the interior of said jaws forming an anvil; and

an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said tube and said proximal end of said control member.

6. A method for dispensing an endoscopic clip, comprising:

delivering an instrument through the lumen of an endoscope, the instrument having a pair of identical hermaphroditic jaws;

closing the jaws over a tissue by rotating the jaws about separate non-collinear axes; and

dispensing the clip by pushing it into the closed jaws.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein:

the step of dispensing the clip includes forming the clip with the interior of the jaws.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

the step of forming includes bending a portion of the clip through an arc of approximately 180 degrees.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

the step of forming includes bending two portions of the clip, each through an arc of approximately 90-180 degrees.

10. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, said control member extending through said flexible tube;

a pair of jaws coupled to said distal end of said tube and said distal end of said control member;

a plurality of clips adjacent said jaws; and

an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said tube and said proximal end of said control member, wherein

said jaws are rotatably mounted on non-collinear axes.