Endoscopic surgical clip applier
First Claim
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.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue includes a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of a body, the jaw assembly including first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position; a yoke slidably supported at least partially in a handle portion and being connected to at least one trigger; a drive link slidably supported at least partially in the handle portion and the body, the drive link having a proximal end connected to the yoke; a spindle supported in the body and rotatably connected to the drive link; and a jaw closure member connected to a distal end of the spindle and being positioned adjacent the first and second jaw portions to move the jaw portions to the approximated position upon a squeezing of the at least one trigger which results in distal advancement of the jaw closure member.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification