Ligation clip applier

• US 20050119677A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Shipp, John I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/083 Clips, e.g. resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

A ligation clip applicator design is provided that is particularly applicable to placement of a surgical ligation clip during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The applicator has a magazine including first and second longitudinally extending partially closed channels within which enlarged portions of a ligation clip are received and held in an open position. First and second substantially parallel compression members are attached to the magazine and have first and second channel extensions therein aligned with the first and second channels of the magazine for receiving the first and second enlarged portions of the clip. The channel extensions include first and second releasing openings. The compression members close about a vessel, remaining substantially parallel as they close. The clip is pushed forward into the compression members to a position where the enlarged portions of the clip are aligned with the releasing openings, permitting the clip to be released to close and ligate the vessel.

Claims

1. A surgical ligation apparatus for compressing a fluid carrying structure, comprising:

a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends;

a shaft having a passage adapted to receive at least one surgical ligation clip therein; and

upper and lower compression members proximate said distal end of said apparatus, each of said upper and lower compression members having a clamping surface for contacting the fluid carrying structure, said clamping surfaces each having a forward portion proximate said distal end of said apparatus and an opposite rearward portion, said rearward portions of said upper and lower clamping surfaces being moveable relative to one another a distance that is generally equal to a distance that said forward portions of said upper and lower clamping surfaces are moveable relative to one another to compress the fluid carrying structure between said clamping surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower compression members each move relative to the mid-longitudinal axis of said apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower compression members are biased to an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spring adapted to bias said upper and lower compression members to an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure therebetween.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clamping surfaces of said upper and lower members are substantially parallel to one another in an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clamping surfaces of said upper and lower members include a plurality of ridges and grooves to frictionally hold the fluid carrying structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuating system adapted to move said upper and lower compression members toward each other at generally the same rate of speed.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said upper and lower compression members each include a first guide surface, said actuating system including a second guide surface configured to move against said first guide surfaces of said upper and lower compression members to move said upper and lower compression members toward each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clip carrier moveable within said passage of said shaft for holding a plurality of surgical ligation clips therein, said clip carrier having a proximal end and an opposite distal end.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said clip carrier includes a guide surface for maintaining substantially vertical movement of said upper and lower compression members relative to one another.

11. A surgical ligation apparatus for compressing a fluid carrying structure, comprising:

a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends;

a shaft having a passage adapted to receive at least one surgical ligation clip therein; and

upper and lower compression members proximate said distal end of said apparatus, said upper and lower compression members being moveable relative to one another to apply a substantially uniform compression across a width of the fluid carrying structure positioned between said upper and lower compression members, said upper and lower compression members each having a guide surface for guiding a ligation clip over at least a portion of the fluid carrying structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said upper and lower compression members are biased to an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure therebetween.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said upper and lower compression members each have a clamping surface adapted to contact the fluid carrying structure, said clamping surfaces being substantially parallel to one another in an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure therebetween.

14. A method of ligating a fluid carrying structure having a width, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting into a patient a surgical ligation instrument having upper and lower clamping surfaces moveable relative to one another between an open position for receiving the fluid carrying structure and a closed position for compressing the fluid carrying structure therebetween, the upper and lower clamping surfaces being adapted to contact the fluid carrying structure;

positioning the fluid carrying structure between clamping surfaces of the instrument;

applying a substantially uniform compression across the width of the fluid carrying structure;

moving a ligation clip over a portion of the clamping surfaces of the instrument, the ligation clip being resiliently biased to a closed position; and

releasing the ligation clip to permit the ligation clip to move to the closed position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of applying includes moving the clamping surfaces toward a proximal end of the instrument.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of applying includes moving the upper and lower clamping surfaces toward a mid-longitudinal axis of the instrument.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower clamping surfaces are in a substantially parallel orientation relative to one another in the open position, the step of applying including maintaining the parallel orientation while moving the upper and lower surfaces to the closed position.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower clamping surfaces each have a forward portion and a rearward portion, the step of applying including moving the forward and rearward portions of the upper and lower clamping surfaces toward each other a generally equal distance.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of moving includes opening the ligation clip to a maximal open position prior to moving the clip over the clamping surfaces.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of inserting a clip carrier into a passage of the instrument, the clip carrier being adapted to hold a plurality of surgical ligation clips.