Articulating endoscopic surgical clip applier
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a handle assembly including;
a housing;
a drive assembly including;
a drive block axially and slidably supported in the housing, wherein the drive block defines a threaded lumen therethrough; and
a drive screw rotatably supported within the housing, the drive screw including a threaded surface configured for mating with the threaded lumen of the drive block;
a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly such that actuation of the trigger acts on the drive block , wherein the trigger is pivotably connected to the drive block;
a ratchet mechanism supported in the housing, the ratchet mechanism including;
a pawl pivotably supported on the drive block;
a toothed-rack defined in the housing, the toothed-rack having a distal reversing recess and a proximal reversing recess configured for housing the pawl; and
a pawl spring supported on the drive block and configured to bias the pawl into operative engagement with at least one tooth of the toothed-rack to restrict longitudinal movement of the drive block in a second direction when the pawl is longitudinally translated in a first direction , wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions;
wherein as the trigger is actuated, the drive block and the pawl are moved in the first direction causing the drive screw to rotate and the pawl to move from the distal reversing recess to the toothed-rack such that the trigger is restricted from returning to an un-actuated position until a complete stroke is achieved.
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Abstract
An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly and a shaft assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive assembly; and a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly. The shaft assembly extends from the handle assembly and includes an articulating neck assembly; and an end effector assembly supported on a distal end of the articulating neck assembly and being configured to form a surgical clip in place on the body tissue.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a handle assembly including; a housing; a drive assembly including; a drive block axially and slidably supported in the housing, wherein the drive block defines a threaded lumen therethrough; and a drive screw rotatably supported within the housing, the drive screw including a threaded surface configured for mating with the threaded lumen of the drive block; a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly such that actuation of the trigger acts on the drive block , wherein the trigger is pivotably connected to the drive block; a ratchet mechanism supported in the housing, the ratchet mechanism including; a pawl pivotably supported on the drive block; a toothed-rack defined in the housing, the toothed-rack having a distal reversing recess and a proximal reversing recess configured for housing the pawl; and a pawl spring supported on the drive block and configured to bias the pawl into operative engagement with at least one tooth of the toothed-rack to restrict longitudinal movement of the drive block in a second direction when the pawl is longitudinally translated in a first direction , wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions; wherein as the trigger is actuated, the drive block and the pawl are moved in the first direction causing the drive screw to rotate and the pawl to move from the distal reversing recess to the toothed-rack such that the trigger is restricted from returning to an un-actuated position until a complete stroke is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the method comprising:
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providing a surgical instrument including; a housing; a drive assembly having; a drive block axially and slidably supported in the housing, wherein the drive block defines a threaded lumen therethrough; and a drive screw rotatably supported within the housing, the drive screw including a threaded surface configured for mating with the threaded lumen of the drive block; a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly such that actuation of the trigger acts on the drive block, wherein the trigger is pivotably connected to the drive block; a ratchet mechanism supported in the housing, the ratchet mechanism including; a pawl pivotably supported on the drive block; a toothed-rack defined in the housing, the toothed-rack having a distal reversing recess and a proximal reversing recess configured for housing the pawl; and a pawl spring supported on the drive block and configured to bias the pawl into operative engagement with at least one tooth of the toothed-rack to restrict longitudinal movement of the drive block in a second direction when the pawl is longitudinally translated in a first direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions; actuating the trigger such that the drive block and the pawl are translated in the first direction causing the drive screw to rotate and the pawl to move from the distal reversing recess to the toothed-rack of the ratchet mechanism; and engaging the pawl with the toothed-rack of the ratchet mechanism such that the trigger is restricted from returning to an un-actuated position until a complete stroke is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification