Clip applier tool having a discharge configuration and method for use thereof

• US 20050149063A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Apollo Camera, LLC
• Inventors: Trutza, George R., Ratcliff, Keith, Young, Wayne P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,572,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means

Abstract

A surgical ligation instrument and method for ligating a fluid carrying structure are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a surgical ligation instrument and method for deploying a spring clip over the fluid carrying structure without pre-clamping the fluid carrying structure.

Claims

1. A method of ligating a fluid carrying structure, 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 the clamping surfaces of the instrument;

moving a ligation clip over a portion of the clamping surfaces of the instrument overlying a portion of the fluid carrying structure while the clamping surfaces are in the open position, the ligation clip being resiliently biased to a closed position;

moving the upper and lower clamping surfaces to the closed position while the ligation clip is over the clamping surfaces; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving the ligation clip includes moving the ligation clip over a majority of a width of the fluid carrying structure between the clamping surfaces while the clamping surfaces are in the open position.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing each of the upper and lower clamping surfaces with a release point which permits the ligation clip to be released from the ligation instrument; and

moving the ligation clip to within approximately 2 mm of at least one of the release openings to move the upper and lower clamping surfaces to the closed position.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining the upper and lower clamping surfaces in the open position until a majority of the ligation clip overlies the fluid carrying structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a biasing force to bias the upper and lower clamping surfaces to the open position.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of applying the biasing force acting to bias the ligation clip to its closed position to overcome the biasing force acting to bias the upper and lower clamping surfaces to the open position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying the biasing force acting to bias the ligation clip to its closed position to move the upper and lower clamping surfaces to the closed position.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting a clip carrier into a passage of the ligation instrument, the clip carrier being adapted to hold a plurality of surgical ligation clips.

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

a proximal end, an opposite distal end for insertion first into a patient, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends, said distal end having no portion adapted to move away from the mid-longitudinal axis; and

a shaft having a passage adapted to receive at least one surgical ligation clip therein, the clip being biased to a closed position, said shaft having a guide surface adapted to move the clip to an open position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said distal end has no portion adapted to move along the mid-longitudinal axis of said apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said distal end includes a single jaw member adapted to retain a portion of the ligation clip as the ligation clip engages said guide surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said jaw member has a length and an upper surface extending along a majority of the length that is not oriented toward any other portion of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a clip carrier moveable within said passage of said shaft for holding a plurality of surgical ligation clips therein.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said guide surface is wedge-shaped.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said guide surface is flexible.

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

a proximal end, an opposite distal end adapted to be inserted first into a patient, and a mid-longitudinal axis passing through said proximal and distal ends; and

a shaft having a passage adapted to receive at least one surgical ligation clip therein, the ligation clip having a length and being biased to a closed position, said shaft having a guide surface proximate said distal end adapted to move the ligation clip to an open position, said guide surface being adapted to retain the ligation clip in the open position while a majority of the length of the ligation clip is beyond said distal end of said apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said guide surface is located substantially within said shaft.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said guide surface includes an upper portion and a lower portion, at least one of said upper and lower portions including an indentation sized to receive a portion of the clip.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said guide surface is wedge-shaped.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said distal end of said apparatus does not have any clamping surfaces for clamping a fluid carrying structure.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said guide surface has upper and lower portions adapted to move apart two portions of the clip.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a clip carrier moveable within said passage of said shaft for holding a plurality of surgical ligation clips therein.