Trigger lockout device for clip applying instrument
First Claim
1. A trigger lockout device for a clip applying instrument, the clip applying instrument having a squeezable trigger, a barrel having a plurality of serially-installed clips therein, and a pair of jaws operatively connected to the trigger and configured to crimp a clip of the plurality of serially-installed clips, the lockout device comprising:
- a displaceable slider operatively connected to and actuable by squeezing and unsqueezing the trigger such that said slider is slidable in opposite directions along a longitudinal axial direction of the barrel;
a block disposed within the barrel; and
a sliding member slidable along the axial direction and having a first section having at least one aperture, and a second section, said sliding member configured such that;
when a first number of the plurality of serially-installed clips have not been applied and when the trigger is squeezed and unsqueezed, said sliding member distally slides along the axial direction, and said slider slidably engages and displaces said block into the at least one aperture of said first section of said sliding member and slides along a path in the axial direction to retrieve a clip of the first number of the plurality of serially-installed clips, and to insert the clip into the pair of jaws; and
when a second number of the plurality of serially-installed clips have not been applied, the second number being between and including zero and a number less than the first number, said slider engages said block such that said block abuts said second section of said sliding member and is not displaced into the at least one aperture of said first section, and such that the abutment of said block and said second section substantially prevents said slider from sliding along the path in at least one of the opposite directions such that the trigger substantially cannot be unsqueezed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trigger lockout device for a clip applying instrument. The lockout device includes a displaceable slider actuable by squeezing a trigger slidable in first and second directions a longitudinal axial direction within the barrel, and a block disposed within the barrel. When a first number of clips have not been applied and when the trigger is squeezed, the slider slidably engages and displaces the block and slides along a path in the axial direction to retrieve a clip of the first number of clips, and to insert the clip into the pair of jaws, and when a second number or none of the clips have not been applied, the slider engages the block to substantially prevent the slider from sliding along the path in at least one of the first or second directions such that the triggery cannot be unsqueezed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A trigger lockout device for a clip applying instrument, the clip applying instrument having a squeezable trigger, a barrel having a plurality of serially-installed clips therein, and a pair of jaws operatively connected to the trigger and configured to crimp a clip of the plurality of serially-installed clips, the lockout device comprising:
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a displaceable slider operatively connected to and actuable by squeezing and unsqueezing the trigger such that said slider is slidable in opposite directions along a longitudinal axial direction of the barrel; a block disposed within the barrel; and a sliding member slidable along the axial direction and having a first section having at least one aperture, and a second section, said sliding member configured such that; when a first number of the plurality of serially-installed clips have not been applied and when the trigger is squeezed and unsqueezed, said sliding member distally slides along the axial direction, and said slider slidably engages and displaces said block into the at least one aperture of said first section of said sliding member and slides along a path in the axial direction to retrieve a clip of the first number of the plurality of serially-installed clips, and to insert the clip into the pair of jaws; and when a second number of the plurality of serially-installed clips have not been applied, the second number being between and including zero and a number less than the first number, said slider engages said block such that said block abuts said second section of said sliding member and is not displaced into the at least one aperture of said first section, and such that the abutment of said block and said second section substantially prevents said slider from sliding along the path in at least one of the opposite directions such that the trigger substantially cannot be unsqueezed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a clip applying instrument, the clip applying instrument having a squeezable trigger, a barrel having a block and plurality of serially-installed clips therein, a slider disposed within the barrel and operatively connected to and actuable by squeezing and unsqueezing the trigger, a sliding member having a first section having at least one aperture, and a second section, said sliding member disposed within the barrel, and a pair of jaws operatively connected to the trigger, the method comprising:
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squeezing the trigger to proximally slide the slider along a path in a generally longitudinal axial direction in relation to the barrel; releasing the trigger to distally slide the slider and the sliding member along the path such that the slider engages and displaces the block into the at least one aperture of the first section of the sliding member; inserting a clip of the plurality of clips between the pair of jaws; again squeezing the trigger to crimp the clip between the pair of jaws and to again proximally slide the slider along the path; and again releasing the trigger such that the slider engages the block such that said block abuts the second section of the sliding member and is not displaced into the at least one aperture of the first section, and such that the abutment of the block and the second section substantially prevents the slider from sliding in at least one of the proximal or distal directions and such that the trigger substantially cannot be unsqueezed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A clip applying instrument comprising:
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a squeezable trigger; a barrel configured to accept a plurality of serially-installed clips therein, a pair of jaws operatively connected to said trigger and configured to crimp a clip of the plurality of serially-installed clips; a displaceable slider operatively connected to and actuable by squeezing and unsqueezing said trigger such that said slider is slidable along a path in opposite directions along a longitudinal axial direction of the barrel; a block disposed within said barrel; and a sliding member slidable along the axial direction and having a first section having at least one aperture, and a second section, said sliding member configured such that; when a first number of the plurality of serially-installed clips have not been applied and when said trigger is squeezed and unsqeezed, said sliding member distally slides along the axial direction, and said slider slidably engages and displaces said block into the at least one aperture of said first section of said sliding member and slides along a path in the axial direction to retrieve a clip of the first number of the plurality of serially-installed clips, and to insert the clip into said pair of jaws; and when a second number of the plurality of serially-installed clips have not been applied, the second number being between and including zero and a number less than the first number, said slider engages said block such that said block abuts said second section of said sliding member and is not displaced into the at least one aperture of said first section, and such that the abutment of said block and said second section substantially prevents said slider from sliding along the path in at least one of the opposite directions such that said trigger substantially cannot be unsqueezed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification