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Endoscopic surgical clip applier

  • US 9,763,668 B2
  • Filed: 03/20/2015
  • Issued: 09/19/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

  • a) an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate body including a resilient member projecting therefrom;

    b) a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the elongate body, the jaw assembly including first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position;

    c) a wedge plate longitudinally movable along the elongate body from a position proximal of the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion to a position between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion, wherein said wedge plate biases the first and the second jaw portions apart when the a distal end of the wedge plate is longitudinally moved between the first and the second jaw portions;

    wherein the wedge plate maintains the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion in a fixed predetermined relationship during a loading of a clip into the first and second jaw portions, the fixed predetermined relationship preventing flexing of the first and second jaw portions during clip loading; and

    wherein the wedge plate has a first proximal window adapted to be engaged by the resilient member disposed in the elongate body, the resilient member being configured to hold the wedge plate in a distal-most position, the distal-most position of the wedge plate being the position between the first and the second jaw portions;

    d) an actuator at least partially disposed within the elongate body and longitudinally movable therewith, the actuator having a cam link, wherein said cam link engages the wedge plate to longitudinally move the distal end of the wedge plate between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion; and

    e) a jaw assembly closure member positioned adjacent the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion to move the jaw portions to the approximated position following a retraction of the distal end of the wedge plate from between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion.

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