EP0406724A1 — Automatic hemostatic clip applicator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 256 words

An instrument for applying hemostatic clips to tissue comprising: a body; a jaw means for retaining, holding and crimping a hemostatic clip, including a pair of spaced apart jaws at the end of said body, the jaws being movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in their common plane to deform the clip positioned between said pair of jaws; means for camming the jaws closed including first cam surface means associated with the jaws and coupled to said jaw means and second cam surface means associated with the body located proximally of the first cam surface means, and means for moving the jaw means and first cam surface means proximally into engagement with the second cam surface means to cause the jaws to move towards one another in their common plane to deform the clip; a cartridge assembly coupled to said jaw means for movement therewith including: means for storing a plurality of hemostatic clips in a column; dispensing means for selectively removing a hemostatic clip from said column in sequential fashion; and feed means for transferring a dispensed clip from said column to said jaws; said instrument further comprising: actuating and sequencing means for sequentially actuating the means for feeding and the means for camming including lever means movable between a first open position and a second closed position, movement of said lever means from said first open position to said second closed position causing the camming means to move the jaws towards each other to close the clip.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 256 words

An instrument for applying hemostatic clips to tissue comprising: a body; a jaw means for retaining, holding and crimping a hemostatic clip, including a pair of spaced apart jaws at the end of said body, the jaws being movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in their common plane to deform the clip positioned between said pair of jaws; means for camming the jaws closed including first cam surface means associated with the jaws and coupled to said jaw means and second cam surface means associated with the body located proximally of the first cam surface means, and means for moving the jaw means and first cam surface means proximally into engagement with the second cam surface means to cause the jaws to move towards one another in their common plane to deform the clip; a cartridge assembly coupled to said jaw means for movement therewith including: means for storing a plurality of hemostatic clips in a column; dispensing means for selectively removing a hemostatic clip from said column in sequential fashion; and feed means for transferring a dispensed clip from said column to said jaws; said instrument further comprising: actuating and sequencing means for sequentially actuating the means for feeding and the means for camming including lever means movable between a first open position and a second closed position, movement of said lever means from said first open position to said second closed position causing the camming means to move the jaws towards each other to close the clip.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The instrument of Claim 1 wherein movement of said lever means from said first open position to said second closed position first cause the feeding means to withdrawal from said jaws and then causes the camming means to move.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The instrument of Claim 1 or 2 wherein said activating and sequencing means comprises a single driver link coupled between said lever means and said jaw means and cartridge assembly which driver link is moved in a single direction when said lever means moves from said first open position to said second closed position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The instrument of Claim 3 wherein said direction is in the proximal direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said instrument further comprises means for preventing said clip from slipping within said jaws after said feed means has retracted but before said camming means has been activated.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said instrument further comprises a jaw housing coupled to said cartridge assembly and movable therewith, said jaw housing and cartridge assembly enclosing the body along its distal length.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 105 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said instrument further comprises a jaw housing coupled to said cartridge assembly and movable therewith, said preventing means including a flexible pawl member extending from the distal end of said jaw housing, and having a distal end positioned between said jaws behind a clip held by said jaws when said feeding means is withdrawn, and a camming surface for engagement with said distal end of said body to move said pawl member distal end from between said jaws when said camming means is activated whereby said jaws are free to move relative to one another.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 69 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the first camming surfaces associated with said jaws are curved outwardly from said jaw means and are drawn into a slot in the body distal end which comprises said second camming means, the curve of said first camming surfaces being such that the jaws close more quickly at the beginning of the closure and more slowly at the end.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein said lever means includes a pair of handles.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein said dispensing means automatically dispenses a clip to a feeding path distally of the distal end of said feeding means when said feeding means is retracted but before said jaws move from said open position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 51 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 10 wherein upon movement of said lever means from said second closed position to said first open position said jaws move from said closed position to said open position and subsequently said feed means feed a new clip to said spaced apart jaws.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

The instrument of Claim 11 wherein said instrument further comprises means for preventing feeding of another clip to said jaws after said feeding means has been retracted into said cartridge until after said lever means has been moved to said second position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 132 words

The instrument of Claim 12 wherein said preventing means comprises a yoke coupled to said lever means for moving proximally with respect to said body when said lever means is moved from said first open position to said second closed position and a cam track associated with the proximal end of said body, said yoke including a cam track follower for engagement with said cam track during movement of said yoke between first and second positions of said lever means, said cam track follower engaging one side of said cam track when said yoke moves proximally and an opposite side of said cam track when said yoke moves distally, said cam track preventing said yoke from moving distally after said feeding means has retracted until said lever means reaches said second position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 90 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 13 wherein said cartridge assembly comprises a pre-assembled cartridge assembly comprising: top and bottom housing portions; feeding means slidable along said housing bottom; an array of hemostatic clips supported by said feeding means; said dispensing means including a pusher means for pushing said array of clips to the distal end of said cartridge assembly, and means for moving the distal most clip only to a feeding path in front of said feeding means when said feeding means is retracted from said jaws.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The instrument of any of Claims 3 to 14 where said driver link comprise a flat elongated member and is coupled to said feeding means on one side and to said jaw means on said other side.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

The instrument of Claim 14 or 15 wherein said instrument comprises a jaw housing coupled to said cartridge top to encircle a distal portion of said body, said jaw means and driver link disposed between said jaw housing and said cartridge bottom.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The instrument of any of Claims 1 to 16 wherein said cartridge assembly comprises a transparent plastic top with indicia placed thereon to indicate the number of clips remaining in said cartridge.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The instrument of Claim 17 wherein said dispensing means comprises in part a spring biased pusher engaging the proximal most clip in said column, said pusher being visibly highlighted to make the pusher more visible through said transparent top.

Automatic hemostatic clip applicator

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