Endoscopic clip applying apparatus with improved aperture for clip release and related method

• US 20050171560A1
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Medical Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pilling Weck Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hughett, J. David
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws

Abstract

An apparatus for applying surgical clips includes a jaw assembly and a jaw opening member. The jaw assembly includes first and second opposing pivotable jaw members that define a variable-width jaw aperture therebetween for receiving a clip. The jaw opening member is movable into engagement with the first and second jaw members for increasing the width of the jaw aperture, thereby improving the release of a clip from the jaw assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying surgical clips, comprising:

(a) a jaw assembly comprising first and second opposing jaw members defining a jaw aperture therebetween for receiving a clip, the first and second jaw members pivotable for varying a width of the jaw aperture; and

(b) a jaw opening member comprising a distal portion generally adjacent to the first and second jaw members, the distal portion movable into engagement with the first and second jaw members for increasing the width of the jaw aperture.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second jaw members form a ridge against which the jaw opening member is abuttable for limiting movement of the jaw opening member in an axial direction toward the jaw assembly.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotable about respective first and second pivot points and comprise respective first and second end members, the first and second end members are disposed opposite to the jaw aperture relative to the first and second pivot points, and the distal portion is movable into engagement with the first and second end members for increasing the width of the jaw aperture.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first and second end members comprise respective first and second reduced-width sections and first and second increased-width sections, the distal portion is axially movable relative to the jaw assembly between a first position and a second position, the distal portion at the first position engages the increased-width sections for increasing the width of the jaw aperture, and the distal portion at the second position is adjacent to the reduced-width sections in non-operatively contacting relation therewith so as not to affect the width of the jaw aperture.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first and second jaw members comprise respective first and second leg members adjoining the first and second end members generally at the first and second pivot points.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first and second jaw members are arranged on either side of a central axis, and the distal portion is movable into engagement with the first and second end members for pivoting the first and second end members toward the central axis.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first and second jaw members comprise respective first and second leg members adjoining the first and second end members generally at the first and second pivot points, and pivoting of the first and second end members toward the central axis corresponds to pivoting of the first and second leg members away from the central axis.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an elongate assembly, wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to the elongate assembly.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the elongate assembly comprises a channel for containing clips, the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to the channel, and the jaw opening member is movable relative to the channel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the elongate assembly comprises a generally hollow elongate member, and the channel and jaw opening member are disposed in the elongate member.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an elongate member movable into engagement with the first and second jaw members for pivotably decreasing the width of the jaw aperture.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the elongate member has an interior and the jaw opening member is movably disposed in the interior.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a feeding device axially movable toward the jaw aperture for feeding a clip therein, wherein the jaw opening member is engageable with the feeding device for movement therewith.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the jaw opening member comprises a tab biased toward the feeding device, the feeding device has a hole, and the tab is removably extendable into the hole.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the distal portion comprises first and second flexible arms movable into respective engagement with the first and second jaw members.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the first and second arms are generally adjacent to the first and second jaw members, and comprise respective first and second extensions oriented at an angle relative to the first and second arms for engaging respective first and second outer surfaces of the first and second jaw members.

17. An apparatus for applying surgical clips, comprising:

(a) an elongate assembly;

(b) a jaw assembly comprising first and second opposing jaw members, the first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to the elongate assembly and defining a variable-width jaw aperture therebetween for receiving a clip; and

(c) a jaw opening member disposed within the elongate assembly and comprising first and second flexible arms movable into engagement with the respective first and second jaw members.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the elongate assembly comprises a channel for containing clips, the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to the channel, and the jaw opening member is movable relative to the channel.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the elongate assembly comprises a generally hollow elongate member, and the channel and jaw opening member are disposed in the elongate member.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the elongate assembly comprises an elongate member movable into contact with the first and second jaw members for pivotably decreasing a width of the jaw aperture.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotable about respective first and second pivot points and comprise respective first and second end members, the first and second end members are disposed opposite to the jaw aperture relative to the first and second pivot points, and the first and second arms are movable into engagement with the respective first and second end members for increasing a width of the jaw aperture.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the first and second jaw members form a ridge generally axially between the first and second pivot points and the first and second end members, and the first and second arms are abuttable against the ridge for limiting movement of the jaw opening member in an axial direction toward the jaw assembly.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the first and second end members comprise respective first and second reduced-width sections and first and second increased-width sections, the first and second arms are axially movable relative to the jaw assembly between a first position and a second position, the first and second arms at the first position respectively engage the increased-width sections for increasing a width of the jaw aperture, and the first and second arms at the second position are adjacent to the reduced-width sections in non-contacting relation therewith so as not to affect the width of the jaw aperture.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17 comprising a feeding device axially movable toward the jaw aperture for feeding a clip therein, wherein the jaw opening member is engageable with the feeding device for movement therewith.

25. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the first and second arms are generally adjacent to the first and second jaw members, and comprise respective first and second extensions oriented at an angle relative to the first and second arms for engaging respective first and second outer surfaces of the first and second jaw members.

26. An apparatus for applying surgical clips, comprising:

(a) a jaw assembly comprising first and second opposing jaw members defining a jaw aperture therebetween for receiving a clip, the first and second jaw members pivotable about respective first and second pivot points and comprising respective first and second outer surfaces;

(b) an elongate member movable into contact with the first and second outer surfaces for pivotably decreasing a width of the jaw aperture; and

(c) a jaw opening member comprising first and second arms respectively engageable with the first and second outer surfaces for pivotably increasing the width of the jaw aperture.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the first and second jaw members comprise respective first and second end members disposed opposite to the jaw aperture relative to the first and second pivot points, and the first and second arms are movable into engagement with the respective first and second outer surfaces at the first and second end members for increasing the width of the jaw aperture.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the first and second jaw members form a ridge generally axially between the first and second pivot points and the first and second end members, and the first and second arms are abuttable against the ridge for limiting movement of the jaw opening member in an axial direction toward the jaw assembly.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the first and second end members comprise respective first and second reduced-width sections and first and second increased-width sections, the first and second arms are axially movable relative to the jaw assembly between a first position and a second position, the first and second arms at the first position respectively engage the first and second outer surfaces at the increased-width sections for increasing the width of the jaw aperture, and the first and second arms at the second position are spaced away from the first and second outer surfaces at the reduced-width sections so as not to affect the width of the jaw aperture.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26 comprising an elongate assembly, wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to the elongate assembly at the respective first and second pivot points and the jaw opening member is movably disposed in the elongate assembly.

31. The apparatus according to claim 26 comprising a feeding device axially movable toward the jaw aperture for feeding a clip therein, wherein the jaw opening member is engageable with the feeding device for movement therewith.

32. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the first and second arms are generally adjacent to the first and second jaw members, and comprise respective first and second extensions oriented at an angle relative to the first and second arms for engaging the respective first and second outer surfaces.

33. An apparatus for applying surgical clips, comprising:

(a) a jaw assembly comprising first and second opposing jaw members defining a jaw aperture therebetween for receiving a clip, the first and second jaw members pivotable for varying a width of the jaw aperture; and

(b) a feeding device axially movable toward the jaw aperture for feeding a clip therein; and

(c) a jaw opening member engageable with the feeding device for movement therewith and movable into engagement with the first and second jaw members for increasing the width of the jaw aperture.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 comprising an elongate assembly, wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to the elongate assembly, and the feeding device and jaw opening member are movably disposed in the elongate assembly.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the elongate assembly comprises a channel for containing clips, the first and second jaw members are pivotably coupled to the channel, and the feeding device and jaw opening member are movable relative to the channel.

36. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the elongate assembly comprises an elongate member movable into contact with the first and second jaw members for pivotably decreasing the width of the jaw aperture.

37. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the jaw opening member comprises a proximal portion engageable with the feeding device.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the proximal portion comprises a tab biased toward the feeding device, the feeding device has a hole, and the tab is removably extendable into the hole.

39. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the jaw opening member comprises first and second flexible arms movable into respective engagement with the first and second jaw members.

40. A method for improving the release of a clip from a clip applying apparatus, comprising:

(a) opening a jaw assembly of a clip applying apparatus to increase a width of a jaw aperture defined between first and second opposing jaw members of the jaw assembly; and

(b) imparting a biasing force to the first and second jaw members to further increase the width of the jaw aperture, whereby the further increased width facilitates releasing a clip disposed in the jaw aperture from the clip applying apparatus.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein imparting the biasing force comprises pivoting the first and second jaw members by moving a jaw opening member into engagement with the first and second jaw members.

42. The method according to claim 41 wherein the first and second jaw members are pivotable about respective first and second pivot points and comprise respective first and second leg members and first and second end members, and moving the jaw opening member into engagement with the first and second jaw members causes the first and second end members to pivot toward each other and the first and second leg members to pivot away from each other.

43. The method according to claim 41 comprising moving the jaw opening member out of engagement with the first and second jaw members to prevent the jaw opening member from imparting the biasing force.

44. The method according to claim 41 comprising actuating the jaw assembly to decrease the width of the jaw aperture against the biasing force, whereby the jaw opening member flexes in response thereto.

45. The method according to claim 40 comprising removing the biasing force while feeding the clip into the jaw aperture.

46. The method according to claim 40 wherein imparting the biasing force comprises causing a clip feeding device to actuate a jaw opening member into engagement with the first and second jaw members.