Ligation clip applier
First Claim
1. A ligation clip and a surgical ligation apparatus in combination with one another for compressing a fluid carrying structure,said ligation clip comprising a clamping arm and a support member biased toward one another, wherein said surgical ligation apparatus positions said ligation clip so that the fluid carrying structure is received between said clamping arm and said support member;
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a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends;
a shaft having a passage adapted to receive at least one said surgical ligation clip therein;
upper and lower compression members proximate said distal end of said apparatus, each of said upper and lower compression members having a clamping surface for contacting the fluid carrying structure, and a longitudinal axis, said clamping surfaces being substantially parallel to one another in an open position, said clamping surfaces each having a forward portion proximatesaid distal end of said apparatus and an opposite rearward portion, and said upper and lower compression members being non-pivotably moveable relative to one another, said rearward portions of said upper and lower clamping surfaces being moveable relative to one another a distance that is generally equal to a distance that said forward portions of said upper and lower clamping surfaces are moveable relative to one another to compress the fluid carrying structure between said clamping surfaces, wherein said upper and lower compression members each include a first guide surface on the proximalmost portions thereof; and
an actuating system adapted to move said upper and lower compression members toward each other so that the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower compression members remain substantially parallel to one another and to the mid-longitudinal axis of said surgical ligation apparatus, said actuating system including a second guide surface configured to move against the first guide surfaces of said upper and lower compression members to move said upper and lower compression members toward each other.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ligation clip applicator design is provided that is particularly applicable to placement of a surgical ligation clip during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The applicator has a magazine including first and second longitudinally extending partially closed channels within which enlarged portions of a ligation clip are received and held in an open position. First and second substantially parallel compression members are attached to the magazine and have first and second channel extensions therein aligned with the first and second channels of the magazine for receiving the first and second enlarged portions of the clip. The channel extensions include first and second releasing openings. The compression members close about a vessel, remaining substantially parallel as they close. The clip is pushed forward into the compression members to a position where the enlarged portions of the clip are aligned with the releasing openings, permitting the clip to be released to close and ligate the vessel.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A ligation clip and a surgical ligation apparatus in combination with one another for compressing a fluid carrying structure,
said ligation clip comprising a clamping arm and a support member biased toward one another, wherein said surgical ligation apparatus positions said ligation clip so that the fluid carrying structure is received between said clamping arm and said support member; - and
said surgical ligation apparatus comprising; a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends; a shaft having a passage adapted to receive at least one said surgical ligation clip therein; upper and lower compression members proximate said distal end of said apparatus, each of said upper and lower compression members having a clamping surface for contacting the fluid carrying structure, and a longitudinal axis, said clamping surfaces being substantially parallel to one another in an open position, said clamping surfaces each having a forward portion proximate said distal end of said apparatus and an opposite rearward portion, and said upper and lower compression members being non-pivotably moveable relative to one another, said rearward portions of said upper and lower clamping surfaces being moveable relative to one another a distance that is generally equal to a distance that said forward portions of said upper and lower clamping surfaces are moveable relative to one another to compress the fluid carrying structure between said clamping surfaces, wherein said upper and lower compression members each include a first guide surface on the proximalmost portions thereof; and an actuating system adapted to move said upper and lower compression members toward each other so that the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower compression members remain substantially parallel to one another and to the mid-longitudinal axis of said surgical ligation apparatus, said actuating system including a second guide surface configured to move against the first guide surfaces of said upper and lower compression members to move said upper and lower compression members toward each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical ligation clip and a surgical ligation apparatus in combination with one another for compressing a fluid carrying structure,
said surgical ligation clip comprising a clamping arm and a support member biased toward one another, wherein said surgical ligation apparatus positions said surgical ligation clip so that the fluid carrying structure is received between said clamping arm and said support member; - and
said surgical ligation apparatus comprising; a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends; a shaft having a passage adapted to receive said surgical ligation clip therein; and upper and lower compression members proximate said distal end of said apparatus, said upper and lower compression members each having a clamping surface for contacting the fluid carrying structure, a longitudinal axis, and being non-pivotably moveable relative to one another so that the longitudinal axes of said upper and lower compression members remain substantially parallel to one another and to the mid-longitudinal axis of said surgical ligation apparatus, said clamping surfaces being substantially parallel to one another in an open position, and said upper and lower compression members each having a guide surface for guiding said surgical ligation clip over at least a portion of the fluid carrying structure, and said upper and lower compression members each further having a first guide surface on the proximalmost portions thereof and configured such that a second guide surface is movable against the first guide surfaces to relatively move said upper and lower compression members. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of ligating a fluid carrying structure, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting into a patient a surgical ligation instrument having an upper compression member with a longitudinal axis and an upper clamping surface and a lower compression member with a longitudinal axis and a lower clamping surface, the upper and lower compression members being moveable relative to one another between an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure and a closed position for compressing the fluid carrying structure therebetween, and the upper and lower clamping surfaces being adapted to contact the fluid carrying structure; positioning the fluid carrying structure between clamping surfaces of the instrument; moving the upper and lower compression members and the clamping surfaces thereof toward a mid-longitudinal axis of the instrument from the open position, where the longitudinal axes are disposed at a first angle relative to one another and the upper and lower clamping surfaces are substantially parallel to one another, to the closed position, where the longitudinal axes are disposed at a second angle relative to one another generally equal to the first angle and the upper and lower clamping surfaces are substantially parallel to one another, wherein said moving the upper and lower compression members is effected by first guide surfaces on the proximalmost portions of each of the upper and lower compression members being contacted and moved by respective second guide surfaces of the instrument; maintaining the substantially parallel orientation of the upper and lower clamping surfaces during movement of the upper and lower compression members from the open position to the closed position; moving a ligation clip through at least a portion of the instrument and then over a portion of the clamping surfaces of the instrument, the ligation clip being resiliently biased to a closed position; and releasing the ligation clip to permit the ligation clip to move to the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification