Surgical clip applier having a wireless clip counter

• US 8,430,892 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bindra, Manjit Singh, Ramlingam, Prabhu
• Primary Examiner(s): TYSON, MELANIE RUANO
• Application Number:
  US12/895,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20110082474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 606/143
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used

Abstract

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a housing, at least one handle a channel assembly, a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and a counter mechanism supported in at least one of the housing and the channel assembly. The counter mechanism is configured to transmit a change in status of the apparatus upon each actuation of the at least one handle. The counter mechanism includes a switch configured to output a signal upon actuation of the trigger, an encoder configured to output a bit sequence upon actuation of the switch, a radio frequency transmitter operable to convert the bit sequence into a radio frequency signal, and a transmitting antenna configured to transmit the radio frequency signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing;

a channel assembly extending distally from the housing;

a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows therein;

and

a counter mechanism supported in at least one of the housing and the channel assembly, wherein the counter mechanism is configured to transmit a change in status of the apparatus upon each actuation of the at least one handle, wherein the counter mechanism comprises;

a switch configured to output a signal upon actuation of the at least one handle;

an encoder configured to output a bit sequence upon actuation of the switch;

a radio frequency transmitter operable to convert the bit sequence into a radio frequency signal; and

a transmitting antenna configured to transmit the radio frequency signal.

2. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly having a trigger;

a shaft assembly including a housing extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition; and

a counter mechanism supported in the handle assembly, wherein the counter mechanism provides an indication when a surgical clip has been fired upon activation of the trigger, wherein the counter mechanism comprises;

a switch configured to output a signal upon actuation of the trigger;

an encoder configured to output a bit sequence upon actuation of the switch;

a radio frequency transmitter operable to convert the bit sequence into a radio frequency signal; and

a transmitting antenna configured to transmit the radio frequency signal.