ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER WITH WEDGE PLATE

• US 20100057107A1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitfield, Kenneth H., Sorrentino, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,358,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly including a housing extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition; and a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing of the shaft assembly and being detachably connectable to the housing of the shaft assembly, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws during distal movement and remain connected to the housing of the shaft assembly and in a distally advanced position during an approximation of the jaws.

Claims

1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly including a trigger and a drive bar reciprocally translatable by the trigger upon an actuation thereof; and

a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft assembly including;

a housing;

a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the housing;

a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the housing, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition;

a wedge plate reciprocally disposed within the housing, the wedge plate being movable between a position where a distal end thereof is disposed in the jaws and a position where the distal end thereof is free from said jaws; and

a wedge plate biasing member disposed within the housing in a manner such that the wedge plate biasing member is biased upon a movement of the wedge plate from the proximal position to the distal position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a lock mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the lock mechanism is engaged when the wedge plate is moved from the proximal position to the distal position and maintains the wedge plate in the distal position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a release of the lock mechanism permits the wedge plate biasing member to un-bias and cause the wedge plate to move from the distal position to a proximal position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a drive channel reciprocally disposed within the housing, wherein the drive bar selectively engages the drive channel to effect translation of the drive channel, wherein a distal end of the drive channel engages a surface of the jaws upon distal advancement thereof to effectuate approximation of the jaws, and wherein the drive channel releases the lock mechanism upon a distal advancement thereof.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the wedge plate is moved from the distal position to a proximal position at a time prior to the distal end of the drive channel engaging the surface of the jaws.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the wedge plate is moved from the distal position to a proximal position at a time substantially simultaneous with the distal end of the drive channel engaging the surface of the jaws.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a biasing member configured to return the drive bar to a proximal position, wherein the handle assembly biasing member has a biasing force, and wherein the wedge plate biasing member has a biasing force less than the biasing force of the handle assembly biasing member, and wherein the handle assembly biasing member assists the wedge plate biasing member in moving the wedge plate to a proximal position when the force of the wedge plate biasing member is insufficient.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws while the jaws are in the open condition and remain in contact with the loaded surgical clip during an approximation of the jaws.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shaft assembly further includes an advancer plate reciprocally disposed within the housing, adjacent to the pusher bar, the advancer plate including at least one fin engageable by a shoulder of the pusher bar, wherein the shoulder of the pusher bar engages the at least one fin of the advancer plate during a distal and a proximal movement of the pusher bar to effectuate one of a distal and proximal movement of the advancer plate.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a clip carrier disposed within the housing adjacent the advancer plate, wherein the clip carrier is configured to retain the plurality of surgical clips.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a clip follower slidably supported in the clip carrier at a location proximal of the plurality of surgical clips, the clip follower being configured to urge the plurality of surgical clips in a distal direction, the clip follower including a first tab projecting from a first surface thereof and a second tab projecting from a second surface thereof, wherein the first tab of the clip follower engages the advancer plate as the advancer plate is moved distally such that the clip follower is moved distally to advance the plurality of surgical clips, and wherein the second tab of the clip follower engages the clip follower as the advancer plate is moved proximally such that the clip follower remains stationary.

12. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly including;

a trigger;

a drive bar reciprocally translatable by the trigger upon an actuation thereof; and

a biasing member configured and disposed to return the drive bar to a proximal position, wherein the handle assembly biasing member has a biasing force; and

a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft assembly including;

a housing;

a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the housing;

a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the housing, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition;

a wedge plate reciprocally disposed within the housing, the wedge plate being movable between a position where a distal end thereof is disposed in the jaws and a position where the distal end thereof is free from said jaws; and

a wedge plate biasing member disposed within the housing in a manner such that the wedge plate biasing member is biased upon a movement of the wedge plate from the proximal position to the distal position, wherein the wedge plate biasing member has a biasing force less than the biasing force of the handle assembly biasing member;

wherein the handle assembly biasing member assists the wedge plate biasing member in moving the wedge plate to a proximal position when the force of the wedge plate biasing member is insufficient.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a lock mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the lock mechanism is engaged when the wedge plate is moved from the proximal position to the distal position and maintains the wedge plate in the distal position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a release of the lock mechanism permits the wedge plate biasing member to un-bias and cause the wedge plate to move from the distal position to a proximal position.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a drive channel reciprocally disposed within the housing, wherein the drive bar selectively engages the drive channel to effect translation of the drive channel, wherein a distal end of the drive channel engages a surface of the jaws upon distal advancement thereof to effectuate approximation of the jaws, and wherein the drive channel releases the lock mechanism upon a distal advancement thereof.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the wedge plate is moved from the distal position to a proximal position at a time prior to the distal end of the drive channel engaging the surface of the jaws.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the wedge plate is moved from the distal position to a proximal position at a time substantially simultaneous with the distal end of the drive channel engaging the surface of the jaws.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a pusher bar reciprocally disposed within the housing, the pusher bar being configured to load a distal-most surgical clip into the jaws while the jaws are in the open condition and remain in contact with the loaded surgical clip during an approximation of the jaws.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the shaft assembly further includes an advancer plate reciprocally disposed within the housing, adjacent to the pusher bar, the advancer plate including at least one fin engageable by a shoulder of the pusher bar, wherein the shoulder of the pusher bar engages the at least one fin of the advancer plate during a distal and a proximal movement of the pusher bar to effectuate one of a distal and proximal movement of the advancer plate.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a clip carrier disposed within the housing adjacent the advancer plate, wherein the clip carrier is configured to retain the plurality of surgical clips.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the shaft assembly further includes a clip follower slidably supported in the clip carrier at a location proximal of the plurality of surgical clips, the clip follower being configured to urge the plurality of surgical clips in a distal direction, the clip follower including a first tab projecting from a first surface thereof and a second tab projecting from a second surface thereof, wherein the first tab of the clip follower engages the advancer plate as the advancer plate is moved distally such that the clip follower is moved distally to advance the plurality of surgical clips, and wherein the second tab of the clip follower engages the clip follower as the advancer plate is moved proximally such that the clip follower remains stationary.

22. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly including a trigger and a drive bar reciprocally translatable by the trigger upon an actuation thereof; and

a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft assembly including;

a housing;

a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the housing;

a jaw mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the housing, the jaw being movable between an open spaced-apart condition and a closed approximated condition;

a wedge plate reciprocally disposed within the housing, the wedge plate being movable between a position where a distal end thereof is disposed in the jaws and a position where the distal end thereof is free from said jaws; and

a lock mechanism disposed within the housing, wherein the lock mechanism is engaged when the wedge plate is moved from the proximal position to the distal position and maintains the wedge plate in the distal position.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein a release of the lock mechanism permits the wedge plate to move from the distal position to a proximal position.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a drive channel reciprocally disposed within the housing, wherein the drive bar selectively engages the drive channel to effect translation of the drive channel, wherein a distal end of the drive channel engages a surface of the jaws upon distal advancement thereof to effectuate approximation of the jaws, and wherein the drive channel releases the lock mechanism upon a distal advancement thereof.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the wedge plate is moved from the distal position to a proximal position at a time prior to the distal end of the drive channel engaging the surface of the jaws.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the wedge plate is moved from the distal position to a proximal position at a time substantially simultaneous with the distal end of the drive channel engaging the surface of the jaws.