Endoscopic surgical clip applier
First Claim
1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue comprising:
- a handle portion;
a body extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the body;
a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body, said jaw assembly further comprising first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced apart and an approximated position;
a wedge plate longitudinally movable between said first and said second jaw portions;
a clip pusher configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to said jaw assembly while said jaw portions are in the spaced apart position;
an actuator at least partially disposed within said body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of said handle portion;
a jaw closure member positioned adjacent said first and said second jaw portions to move said jaw portions to the approximated position; and
a movable member being biased in said body adjacent said wedge plate;
wherein said actuator longitudinally advances said wedge plate a predetermined distance to a distal most position;
wherein said wedge plate has an end being disposed between said first and said second jaw portions at said distal most position, said wedge plate end configured to maintain said jaw assembly in said spaced apart position during loading of said surgical clip, said wedge plate end reducing torque and external forces on said jaw assembly during said loading;
wherein said movable member holds said wedge plate in said distal most position during said loading of said jaw assembly with said surgical clip;
wherein said movable member is deflected at a conclusion of said loading, said movable member releasing said wedge plate upon deflection said movable member allowing a longitudinal proximal retraction of said wedge plate from said distal most position;
wherein said actuator comprises a cam, and wherein said wedge plate has a cam slot, said cam being engageable with a camming surface in said cam slot, said cam contacting said camming surface to move said wedge plate distally between said first jaw portion and said second jaw portion of said jaw assembly;
further comprising a component being substantially aligned with said wedge plate, said component having a component cam slot and a camming feature, said camming feature being in said component cam slot, said component cam slot being aligned with said cam slot of said wedge plate, wherein when said camming feature contacts said cam, said camming feature of said component drives said cam laterally out of engagement with said camming surface of said wedge plate, wherein said component terminates distal movement of said wedge plate;
wherein said wedge plate further comprises a proximal window, said proximal window having a member extending from a lateral side of said window forming a first proximal window section and a second proximal window section, said movable member having a first portion moving from said first proximal window section to said second proximal window section, said movable member configured to retain said wedge plate at said distal most position with said first portion retaining at least one of said first and said second proximal window sections,further comprising a biasing component for biasing a second portion of said movable member to retain said wedge plate at said distal most position;
wherein said movable member moves from a first position to a second position, wherein in said first portion of said movable member retains said wedge plate, and wherein in said second position of said movable member is deflected and does not retain said wedge plate, said movable member permitting said wedge plate end to be retracted proximally from said jaw assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical clip applying apparatus is disclosed which has a handle portion, a body extending distally from the handle portion defining a longitudinal axis and a number of surgical clips disposed within the body. The apparatus has a movable member biased in the housing adjacent the wedge plate. An actuator longitudinally advances the wedge plate a predetermined distance to a distal most position. The wedge plate has an end being disposed between first and second jaw portions at the distal most position. The wedge plate end is configured to maintain the jaw assembly in the spaced apart position during loading of the surgical clip and the wedge plate end reduces torque and external forces on the jaw assembly during the loading. The movable member holds the wedge plate in the distal most position during the loading and the movable member is deflected at a conclusion of the loading. The movable member releases the wedge plate upon deflection. The movable member allows a longitudinal proximal retraction of the wedge plate from the distal most position.
740 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; a body extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the body; a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body, said jaw assembly further comprising first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced apart and an approximated position; a wedge plate longitudinally movable between said first and said second jaw portions; a clip pusher configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to said jaw assembly while said jaw portions are in the spaced apart position; an actuator at least partially disposed within said body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of said handle portion; a jaw closure member positioned adjacent said first and said second jaw portions to move said jaw portions to the approximated position; and a movable member being biased in said body adjacent said wedge plate; wherein said actuator longitudinally advances said wedge plate a predetermined distance to a distal most position; wherein said wedge plate has an end being disposed between said first and said second jaw portions at said distal most position, said wedge plate end configured to maintain said jaw assembly in said spaced apart position during loading of said surgical clip, said wedge plate end reducing torque and external forces on said jaw assembly during said loading; wherein said movable member holds said wedge plate in said distal most position during said loading of said jaw assembly with said surgical clip; wherein said movable member is deflected at a conclusion of said loading, said movable member releasing said wedge plate upon deflection said movable member allowing a longitudinal proximal retraction of said wedge plate from said distal most position; wherein said actuator comprises a cam, and wherein said wedge plate has a cam slot, said cam being engageable with a camming surface in said cam slot, said cam contacting said camming surface to move said wedge plate distally between said first jaw portion and said second jaw portion of said jaw assembly; further comprising a component being substantially aligned with said wedge plate, said component having a component cam slot and a camming feature, said camming feature being in said component cam slot, said component cam slot being aligned with said cam slot of said wedge plate, wherein when said camming feature contacts said cam, said camming feature of said component drives said cam laterally out of engagement with said camming surface of said wedge plate, wherein said component terminates distal movement of said wedge plate; wherein said wedge plate further comprises a proximal window, said proximal window having a member extending from a lateral side of said window forming a first proximal window section and a second proximal window section, said movable member having a first portion moving from said first proximal window section to said second proximal window section, said movable member configured to retain said wedge plate at said distal most position with said first portion retaining at least one of said first and said second proximal window sections, further comprising a biasing component for biasing a second portion of said movable member to retain said wedge plate at said distal most position; wherein said movable member moves from a first position to a second position, wherein in said first portion of said movable member retains said wedge plate, and wherein in said second position of said movable member is deflected and does not retain said wedge plate, said movable member permitting said wedge plate end to be retracted proximally from said jaw assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue comprising:
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a handle portion; a body extending distally from said handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within said body; a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of said body, said jaw assembly further comprising first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced apart and an approximated position; a wedge plate longitudinally movable between said first and said second jaw portions; a clip pusher configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to said jaw assembly while said jaw portions are in the spaced apart position; an actuator at least partially disposed within said body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of said handle portion; and a jaw closure member positioned adjacent said first and said second jaw portions to move said jaw portions to said approximated position; wherein said actuator longitudinally advances said wedge plate a predetermined distance to a distal most position; wherein said wedge plate has an end being disposed between said first and said second jaw portions at said distal most position, said wedge plate end configured to maintain said jaw assembly in said spaced apart position during loading of said surgical clip, said wedge plate end reducing torque on said jaw assembly during said loading; wherein said actuator further actuates an audible device configured to indicate that at least one of said plurality of clips has fired; further comprising a cam slot in said wedge plate with a wedge plate camming surface in said cam slot, said wedge plate having a distal rounded end, and a proximal window, and further comprising a filler component having a filler component cam slot being aligned with said cam slot and having a filler component camming feature, a proximal window and a spring bar member in said window, said filler component being fixed in said body, the apparatus further comprising a movable member connected to said filler component, said movable member having a first arm and a second arm, said second arm being biased by said spring bar member; wherein said actuator has a cam link, said cam link being driven distally in said cam slot, said cam contacting said wedge plate camming surface and moving said wedge plate distally, wherein said rounded distal end is moved between said jaws for loading; wherein said cam link contacts said filler component camming feature and is cammed out of engagement with said wedge plate camming surface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification