Endoscopic surgical clip applier
First Claim
1. An endoscopic surgical clip applier, comprising:
- a handle assembly including;
a housing;
a fixed handle extending from the housing; and
a trigger pivotally connected to the fixed handle;
an endoscopic assembly selectively connectable to the housing of the handle assembly, the endoscopic assembly including;
a shaft assembly; and
a pair of jaw members operatively coupled to, and extending from the shaft assembly;
a drive bar disposed within the housing of the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the trigger and the pair of jaw members to move the pair of jaw members between a spaced apart configuration and an approximated configuration upon actuation of the trigger;
a ratchet assembly disposed within the housing of the handle assembly, the ratchet assembly including;
a rack disposed on the drive bar, the rack defining a plurality of rack teeth and having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a pawl housing slidably mounted within the housing of the handle assembly, the pawl housing having a pawl being selectively engageable with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack, wherein in a first position of the pawl housing, the pawl is in registration with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack to prohibit reversal of a direction of movement of the trigger until the pawl is disposed beyond the proximal end or the distal end of the rack and wherein in a second position of the pawl housing, the pawl is out of registration with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack to permit reversal of the direction of movement of the trigger after an initial engagement of the pawl with the rack;
a release switch at least partially supported within the housing of the handle assembly and operatively associated with the pawl housing, the release switch selectively actuatable to move the pawl housing from the first position thereof to the second portion thereof, wherein in the second position of the pawl housing, the pawl housing is moved laterally relative to the rack to disengage the pawl from the plurality of rack teeth of the rack, wherein the release switch includes a first end cap and a second end cap, wherein a first side of the housing includes a first switch slot configured to slidably receive the first end cap of the release switch and a second side of the housing includes a second switch slot configured to slidably receive the second end cap of the release switch;
a switch pin, wherein the pawl housing defines a central slot therein configured to locate the switch pin, the switch pin slidably extending through the channel of the pawl housing and the pawl to support the pawl within the channel of the pawl housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic surgical clip applier includes a handle assembly having a trigger, an endoscopic assembly, a pair of jaw members, a drive bar disposed within the housing of the handle assembly, and a ratchet assembly disposed within the housing of the handle assembly. The drive bar is operatively coupled to the trigger and the pair of jaw members. The ratchet assembly includes a rack disposed on the drive bar, the rack defining a plurality of rack teeth, and a pawl housing slidably mounted within the housing of the handle assembly, the pawl housing having a pawl being selectively engageable with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack, wherein in a first position of the pawl housing, reversal of a direction of movement of the trigger is prohibited, and wherein in a second position of the pawl housing, reversal of the direction of movement of the trigger is permitted.
841 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An endoscopic surgical clip applier, comprising:
-
a handle assembly including; a housing; a fixed handle extending from the housing; and a trigger pivotally connected to the fixed handle; an endoscopic assembly selectively connectable to the housing of the handle assembly, the endoscopic assembly including; a shaft assembly; and a pair of jaw members operatively coupled to, and extending from the shaft assembly; a drive bar disposed within the housing of the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the trigger and the pair of jaw members to move the pair of jaw members between a spaced apart configuration and an approximated configuration upon actuation of the trigger; a ratchet assembly disposed within the housing of the handle assembly, the ratchet assembly including; a rack disposed on the drive bar, the rack defining a plurality of rack teeth and having a proximal end and a distal end; and a pawl housing slidably mounted within the housing of the handle assembly, the pawl housing having a pawl being selectively engageable with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack, wherein in a first position of the pawl housing, the pawl is in registration with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack to prohibit reversal of a direction of movement of the trigger until the pawl is disposed beyond the proximal end or the distal end of the rack and wherein in a second position of the pawl housing, the pawl is out of registration with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack to permit reversal of the direction of movement of the trigger after an initial engagement of the pawl with the rack; a release switch at least partially supported within the housing of the handle assembly and operatively associated with the pawl housing, the release switch selectively actuatable to move the pawl housing from the first position thereof to the second portion thereof, wherein in the second position of the pawl housing, the pawl housing is moved laterally relative to the rack to disengage the pawl from the plurality of rack teeth of the rack, wherein the release switch includes a first end cap and a second end cap, wherein a first side of the housing includes a first switch slot configured to slidably receive the first end cap of the release switch and a second side of the housing includes a second switch slot configured to slidably receive the second end cap of the release switch; a switch pin, wherein the pawl housing defines a central slot therein configured to locate the switch pin, the switch pin slidably extending through the channel of the pawl housing and the pawl to support the pawl within the channel of the pawl housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An endoscopic surgical clip applier, comprising:
-
a handle assembly including; a fixed handle; and a trigger pivotally connected to the fixed handle; a shaft assembly extending from the handle assembly; a pair of jaw members operatively coupled to, and extending from the shaft assembly; a drive bar disposed within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the trigger and the pair of jaw members to move the pair of jaw members between a spaced apart configuration and an approximated configuration upon actuation of the trigger; a ratchet assembly disposed within the handle assembly, the ratchet assembly including; a rack defined on a top portion of the drive bar, the rack including a plurality of rack teeth and having a proximal end and a distal end; a pawl housing movably mounted within the handle assembly, the pawl housing having a pawl being selectively engageable with the plurality of rack teeth of the rack to prohibit, upon actuation of the trigger, a reversal of a direction of movement of the trigger until the pawl is disposed beyond the proximal end or the distal end of the rack after an initial engagement of the pawl with the rack; a release switch at least partially supported within the housing of the handle assembly and operatively associated with the pawl housing, the release switch selectively actuatable to move the pawl housing from the first position thereof to the second portion thereof, wherein in the second position of the pawl housing, the pawl housing is moved laterally relative to the rack to disengage the pawl from the plurality of rack teeth of the rack, wherein the release switch includes a first end cap and a second end cap, wherein a first side of the housing includes a first switch slot configured to slidably receive the first end cap of the release switch and a second side of the housing includes a second switch slot configured to slidably receive the second end cap of the release switch; and a switch pin, wherein the pawl housing defines a central slot therein configured to locate the switch pin, the switch pin slidably extending through the channel of the pawl housing and the pawl to support the pawl within the channel of the pawl housing. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
Specification