Surgical clip applier ratchet mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical clip applier, comprising:
- an elongate shaft;
opposed jaws disposed on a distal end of the elongate shaft and movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position;
an actuation assembly extending through the elongate shaft and coupled to the opposed jaws such that the actuation assembly is configured to move the opposed jaws between the fully open and fully closed positions; and
a pawl and ratchet operatively associated with the actuation assembly, the ratchet having a notch positioned between a plurality of teeth and an end tooth, and the ratchet being pivotally disposed about a fixed pivot point;
wherein, when the pawl is engaged with the plurality of teeth the ratchet limits movement of the actuation assembly to a distal direction, and when the pawl is disposed within the notch the ratchet allows the actuation assembly to be selectively moved in both the distal direction and an opposite proximal direction such that the actuation assembly can move the jaws from a partially closed position directly to the fully open position without first being moved to the fully closed position.
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Abstract
A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.
428 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A surgical clip applier, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; opposed jaws disposed on a distal end of the elongate shaft and movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; an actuation assembly extending through the elongate shaft and coupled to the opposed jaws such that the actuation assembly is configured to move the opposed jaws between the fully open and fully closed positions; and a pawl and ratchet operatively associated with the actuation assembly, the ratchet having a notch positioned between a plurality of teeth and an end tooth, and the ratchet being pivotally disposed about a fixed pivot point; wherein, when the pawl is engaged with the plurality of teeth the ratchet limits movement of the actuation assembly to a distal direction, and when the pawl is disposed within the notch the ratchet allows the actuation assembly to be selectively moved in both the distal direction and an opposite proximal direction such that the actuation assembly can move the jaws from a partially closed position directly to the fully open position without first being moved to the fully closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A pawl and ratchet assembly for use with a surgical clip applier having an elongate shaft, opposed jaws disposed on a distal end thereof, and an actuation assembly for opening and closing the opposed jaws, the pawl and ratchet assembly comprising:
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a pawl disposed within a housing; and a ratchet disposed within the housing and configured to be operatively associated with the actuation assembly, the ratchet being configured to move relative to the housing such that the ratchet is in engagement with the pawl when the jaws are moved between a fully open position and a fully closed position, and the pawl and ratchet being configured to allow movement of the opposed jaws from a partially closed position, in which the ratchet is engaged with the pawl, directly to the fully open position without first being moved to the fully closed position, the pawl engaging the ratchet as the pawl moves from the partially closed position directly to the fully open position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical clip applier, comprising:
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an elongate member having opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof and movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; an actuation assembly extending through the elongate shaft for controlling movement of the opposed jaws between the fully open position and the fully closed position; and a rotatable pawl and a ratchet operatively associated with the actuation assembly, the ratchet being configured to move with the actuation assembly against the pawl as the actuation assembly moves relative to the shaft to move the jaws between the fully open position and the fully closed position; wherein the ratchet is configured to allow the jaws to move from a partially closed position, in which the ratchet is engaged with the rotatable pawl, directly to the fully open position without first moving to the fully closed position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification