Articulating clip applier
First Claim
1. A surgical clip applying apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a drive assembly at least partially positioned within the housing;
a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing and having a first tubular member and a second tubular member located distally from the first tubular member, the first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis, the second tubular member supporting a plurality of surgical clips and configured to distally advance each single clip of the plurality of surgical clips, individually, to form the single clip of the plurality of surgical clips upon each single firing of the surgical clip applying apparatus, the first tubular member and the second tubular member being pivotally connected through a common pivot axis, the pivot axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the second tubular member includes a jaw assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws, the jaw assembly having a spaced apart condition for entirely receiving a single unformed clip between the pair of jaws, and an approximated condition wherein the pair of jaws form the single clip disposed therebetween, wherein the second tubular member defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the pair of jaws are approximated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member; and
an articulation mechanism operatively connected between the first tubular member and the second tubular member, the articulation mechanism including;
a gear rack having a plurality of teeth longitudinally placed thereon, the gear rack located within the first tubular member; and
at least one gear operatively connected with the gear rack located within the first tubular member; and
a gear segment extending proximally from the second tubular member, the gear segment being fixed with respect to the second tubular member, the gear segment being operatively connected with the at least one gear to pivot the second tubular member about the pivot axis.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a housing, a drive assembly, a trigger, and a shaft assembly. The trigger is operatively connected with the drive assembly. The drive assembly is at least partially positioned within the housing. The shaft assembly extends distally from the housing and has a first tubular member pivotally connected with a second tubular member located distally from the first tubular member. An articulation mechanism is operatively connected between the first and second tubular members, and includes a gear rack, at least one gear, and a gear segment, respectfully connected with each other to pivot the second tubular member about the pivot axis. The gear rack and at least one gear are located within the first tubular member. The gear segment extends proximally from the second tubular member.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A surgical clip applying apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
-
a housing; a drive assembly at least partially positioned within the housing; a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing and having a first tubular member and a second tubular member located distally from the first tubular member, the first tubular member defining a longitudinal axis, the second tubular member supporting a plurality of surgical clips and configured to distally advance each single clip of the plurality of surgical clips, individually, to form the single clip of the plurality of surgical clips upon each single firing of the surgical clip applying apparatus, the first tubular member and the second tubular member being pivotally connected through a common pivot axis, the pivot axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; wherein the second tubular member includes a jaw assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws, the jaw assembly having a spaced apart condition for entirely receiving a single unformed clip between the pair of jaws, and an approximated condition wherein the pair of jaws form the single clip disposed therebetween, wherein the second tubular member defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the pair of jaws are approximated in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second tubular member; and an articulation mechanism operatively connected between the first tubular member and the second tubular member, the articulation mechanism including; a gear rack having a plurality of teeth longitudinally placed thereon, the gear rack located within the first tubular member; and at least one gear operatively connected with the gear rack located within the first tubular member; and a gear segment extending proximally from the second tubular member, the gear segment being fixed with respect to the second tubular member, the gear segment being operatively connected with the at least one gear to pivot the second tubular member about the pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A surgical clip applying apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
-
a housing; a drive assembly at least partially located within the housing; a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing and having a first tubular member and a second tubular member located distally from the first tubular member, the first tubular member defining a first longitudinal axis and being configured to rotate about the first longitudinal axis, the second tubular member supporting a plurality of surgical clips and configured to distally advance each single clip of the plurality of surgical clips, individually, to form the single clip of the plurality of surgical clips upon each single firing of the surgical clip applying apparatus, the first tubular member and the second tubular member being connected through a common pivot axis, the second tubular member defining a second longitudinal axis, the second tubular member being rotatable about the second longitudinal axis, the second tubular member including a geared segment extending proximally from a proximal portion thereof, the drive assembly extending through the first tubular member and partially into the second tubular member; wherein the second tubular member includes a jaw assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws, the jaw assembly having a spaced apart condition for entirely receiving a single unformed clip between the pair of jaws, and an approximated condition wherein the pair of jaws form the single clip disposed therebetween, wherein the pair of jaws are approximated in a direction transverse to the second longitudinal axis; and a rack extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis, the rack being located within the first tubular member and configured to reciprocate along the first longitudinal axis, the rack being operatively connected with the geared segment to pivot the second tubular member about the pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification