Surgical clip applier

• US 9,848,886 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• 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 SONNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/828,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20150351771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 606139, 606142, 606143, 606151, 606205-209
• 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 movably connected to the housing;

a channel assembly extending 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 movably supported in the housing and the channel assembly;

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

a rack member associated with the drive channel;

a first pawl and a second pawl supported in the housing adjacent to the rack member; and

a spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl, the spring configured to enable movement of the rack member;

a clip follower slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier and disposed proximally of the plurality of clips, the clip follower configured for selective incremental advancement through the channel of the clip carrier and through the channel assembly, wherein the clip follower is configured 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, wherein the clip follower is urged in a distal direction by a biasing member;

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, and the pusher bar configured to move towards the pair of 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; and

a linkage mechanism that couples the drive channel to the pusher bar, the linkage mechanism having a driver link arm pivotally connected to a driven link arm.

2. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, wherein the clip follower includes a head configured 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.

3. The surgical clip applier according to claim 2, 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.

4. The surgical clip applier according to claim 3, 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 the at least one handle from actuating completely.

5. The surgical clip applier according to claim 4, 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 operable to effect formation of a clip in response to movement of the at least one handle.

6. The surgical clip applier according to claim 5, wherein the drive channel includes a first end operatively connected to the at least one handle and a second end configured to surround and selectively engage the pair of jaws to effectuate closure of the pair of jaws;

the drive channel movable towards the jaw assembly as the at least one handle moves 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 movable away from the jaw assembly as the at least one handle moves in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to move the second end of the drive channel away from the jaw assembly and enable the pair of jaws to open.

7. The surgical clip applier according to claim 6, wherein the second end of the drive channel includes a tongue extending between the pair of jaws.

8. The surgical clip applier according to claim 6, wherein, with the drive channel disposed at a proximal-most position, with the spring bowed in a proximal direction, and with the first pawl and the second pawl engaged with the rack member so as to enable the drive channel to move in the distal direction, when the drive channel is advanced to a distal-most position, the proximally bowing spring is acted on and caused to bow in the distal direction, whereby the drive channel moves in the proximal direction.

9. The surgical clip applier according to claim 8, wherein, with the drive channel disposed at the distal-most position, with the spring bowed in the distal direction, and with the first pawl and the second pawl engaged with the rack member so as to enable the drive channel to move in the proximal direction, when the drive channel is retracted to the proximal-most position, the distally bowing spring is acted on and caused to bow in the proximal direction, whereby the drive channel moves in the distal direction.

10. The surgical clip applier according to claim 6, wherein the drive channel includes a stop tab projecting toward the clip follower, and wherein the clip follower defines a window therein,

wherein, while the clip follower is in a distal-most position with the head thereof disposed between the pair of jaws, and while 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.

11. The surgical clip applier according to claim 10, 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.

12. The surgical clip applier according to claim 11, wherein the window of the clip follower, configured to receive the stop tab of the drive channel, is formed in the tail.

13. The surgical clip applier according to claim 12, wherein the biasing member is a constant force spring, the constant force spring including 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 the pair of jaws of the surgical clip applier.

14. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, wherein, when the spring buckles so as to bow from a proximal direction to a distal direction and from the distal direction to the proximal direction, the first and second pawls flip about a pivot point and create at least one of an audible and tactile feedback.

15. 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 V-shaped channel, and wherein each pawl is pivotably disposed in a respective V-shaped channel of the channel assembly.

16. The surgical clip applier according to claim 15, wherein each V-shaped channel includes a rib projecting into the V-shaped 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.

17. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a constant force spring.

18. The surgical clip applier according to claim 1, 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.

19. A surgical clip applier, comprising:

a housing;

at least one handle movably connected to the housing;

a channel assembly extending 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 movably supported in the housing and the channel assembly;

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

a rack member associated with the drive channel;

a first pawl and a second pawl supported in the housing adjacent to the rack member; and

a spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl, the spring configured to enable movement of the rack member;

a clip follower slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier and disposed proximally of the plurality of clips, the clip follower configured for selective incremental advancement through the channel of the clip carrier and through the channel assembly, wherein the clip follower is configured 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, wherein the clip follower is urged in a distal direction by a constant force spring; and

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, and the pusher bar configured to move towards the pair of 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.

20. The surgical clip applier according to claim 19, wherein the constant force spring is connected to the clip follower and configured to move the clip follower distally.

21. A surgical clip applier, comprising:

a housing;

at least one handle movably connected to the housing;

a channel assembly extending from the housing, the channel assembly including a pair of opposed proximal side walls, each proximal side wall of the channel assembly defining a V-shaped channel;

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 movably supported in the housing and the channel assembly, the drive channel including a tail extending proximally from a proximal end thereof; and

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

a rack member associated with the drive channel and formed on the tail of the drive channel;

a first pawl and a second pawl supported in the housing adjacent to the rack member, each pawl pivotably disposed in a respective V-shaped channel of the channel assembly, the tail of the drive channel extending between the first pawl and the second pawl; and

a spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl, the spring configured to enable movement of the rack member.