Surgical clip applier

• US 9,113,892 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Malkowski, Jaroslaw T., Rockrohr, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Kathleen
• Application Number:
  US13/736,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20140194903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 606/142, 606/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion

Abstract

A surgical clip applier is provided and includes a ratchet mechanism having a rack member connected to a drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof. The ratchet mechanism including a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction.

Claims

1. A surgical clip applier, 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;

a plurality of clips loaded in the channel of the clip carrier;

a drive channel translatably supported in the housing and the channel assembly, the drive channel being translated upon actuation of the at least one handle; and

a ratchet mechanism disposed within the housing, the ratchet mechanism including;

a rack member connected to the drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof;

a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and

a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction;

wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the proximal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member so as to permit the drive channel to move in a distal direction; and

wherein, when the buckling spring is bowed in the distal direction, the first pawl and the second pawl are engaged with the rack member so as to permit the drive channel to move in a proximal direction.

2. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clip follower slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier and disposed proximally of the plurality of clips, the clip follower being configured and adapted for selective incremental advancement through the channel of the clip carrier and through the channel assembly, wherein the clip follower is configured and adapted to urge the plurality of clips, in a distal direction relative to the clip carrier, following a loading of a distal-most clip of the plurality of clips into a pair of jaws.

3. The surgical clip applier according to claim 2, wherein the clip follower is urged in a distal direction by a biasing member.

4. The surgical clip applier according to claim 3, wherein the biasing member is a constant force spring.

5. The surgical clip applier according to claim 4, wherein the constant force spring includes a distal end secured against movement in the surgical clip applier, and a proximal end coiled onto itself, wherein the coiled proximal end of the constant force spring is connected to the clip follower so as to draw the clip follower distally upon a coiling of the coiled proximal end of the constant force spring.

6. The surgical clip applier according to claim 3, further comprising a clip pusher bar reciprocally positioned within at least one of the housing and the channel assembly, the pusher bar having a first end operatively connected to the at least one handle and a second end defining a pusher, the pusher bar being movable away from the pair of jaws as the at least one handle is actuated in order to move the pusher behind the distal-most clip stored in the channel of the clip carrier, and said pusher bar being configured and adapted to move towards the jaws as the at least one handle is returned to an un-actuated position to move the distal-most clip between the pair of jaws.

7. The surgical clip applier according to claim 6, wherein the clip follower includes a head configured and dimensioned for engagement by the pusher of the clip pusher bar, when in a retracted position, following a loading of a final clip of the plurality of clips into the pair of jaws of the surgical clip applier.

8. The surgical clip applier according to claim 7, wherein following engagement of the head of the clip follower by the pusher of the clip pusher bar, a distal advancement of the clip pusher bar will advance the clip follower distally such that the head of the clip follower is positioned between the pair of jaws.

9. The surgical clip applier according to claim 8, wherein when the head of the clip follower is positioned between the pair of jaws, the head of the clip follower prevents the pair of jaws from closing and thus prevents the at least one handle from actuating completely.

10. The surgical clip applier according to claim 9, further comprising a jaw assembly including the pair of jaws extending from an end of the channel assembly, opposite the housing, the jaw assembly adapted to accommodate a clip therein and being operable to effect formation of a clip in response to movement of the at least one handle.

11. The surgical clip applier according to claim 10, wherein the drive channel includes a first end operatively connected to the at least one handle and a second end configured and dimensioned to surround and selectively engage the pair of jaws to effectuate closure of the pair of jaws;

the drive channel being moved towards the jaw assembly as the at least one handle is moved in a first direction to move the second end of the drive channel against the pair of jaws to close the pair of jaws;

the drive channel being moved away from the jaw assembly as the at least one handle is moved in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to move the second end of the drive channel away from the jaw assembly to allow the pair of jaws to open.

12. The surgical clip applier according to claim 11, wherein the second end of the drive channel includes a tongue extending between the pair of jaws.

13. The surgical clip applier according to claim 11, wherein, with the drive channel disposed at a proximal-most position, with the buckling spring bowed in the proximal direction, and with the first pawl and the second pawl engaged with the rack member so as to permit the drive channel to move in the distal direction, when the drive channel is advanced to a distal-most position, the proximally bowing buckling spring is acted on and caused to bow in the distal direction, whereby the drive channel is permitted to move in the proximal direction.

14. The surgical clip applier according to claim 13, wherein, with the drive channel disposed at the distal-most position, with the buckling spring bowed in the distal direction, and with the first pawl and the second pawl engaged with the rack member so as to permit the drive channel to move in the proximal direction, when the drive channel is retracted to the proximal-most position, the distally bowing buckling spring is acted on and caused to bow in the proximal direction, whereby the drive channel is permitted to move in the distal direction.

15. The surgical clip applier according to claim 11, wherein the drive channel includes a stop tab projecting therefrom in a direction toward the clip follower, and wherein the clip follower defines a window therein,

wherein, when the clip follower is in a distal-most position with the head thereof disposed between the pair of jaws, and when the drive channel is in the proximal-most position, the stop tab of the drive channel is disposed in the window of the clip follower.

16. The surgical clip applier according to claim 15, wherein the clip follower includes:

an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the head is supported at the distal end thereof; and

a tail having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the tail is connected to the proximal end of the elongate body such that the tail and the elongate body bias away from one another.

17. The surgical clip applier according to claim 16, wherein the window of the clip follower, configured to receive the stop tab of the drive channel, is formed in the tail.

18. The surgical clip applier according to claim 17, wherein the biasing member is a constant force spring, the constant force spring includes a distal end secured against movement in the surgical clip applier, and a proximal end coiled onto itself and at least partially disposed in the window of the tail of the clip follower, wherein the coiled proximal end of the constant force spring draws the clip follower distally upon a coiling of the coiled proximal end of the constant force spring subsequent to a loading of a distal-most clip of the plurality of clips into a pair of jaws of the surgical clip applier.

19. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, wherein, when the buckling spring is caused to be buckled so as to bow from the proximal direction to the distal direction and from the distal direction to the proximal direction, the pair of pawls are caused to flip about a pivot point and create at least one of an audible and tactile feedback.

20. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, wherein the channel assembly includes a pair of opposed proximal side walls, wherein each proximal side wall of the channel assembly defines a substantially V-shaped channel, and wherein each pawl is pivotably disposed in a respective V-shaped channel of the channel assembly.

21. The surgical clip applier according to claim 20, wherein each V-shaped channel includes a rib projecting into the channel, wherein the rib of the V-shaped channel is received in a notch defined in a respective pawl, wherein an axial position of each pawl in the V-shaped notch is maintained.

22. The surgical clip applier according to claim 20, wherein the drive channel includes a tail extending proximally from a proximal end thereof, wherein the tail of the drive channel extends between the first pawl and the second pawl, and wherein the rack member of the ratchet mechanism is formed on the tail of the drive channel.