EP0409569A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for applying surgical clips in laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A disposable apparatus is disclosed for applying surgical clips to body tissue in endoscopic surgical procedures. The apparatus includes a frame which is adapted to be gripped by hand, and an endoscopic section (14) permanently connected to the handle and capable of storing surgical clips (22) in preparation for clipping arteries or other body tissue. The apparatus includes means for advancing each clip (22) sequentially to a pair of distal jaws (24) and means for closing the jaws (24) about the clip (22). When the jaws (24) are closed, the clip advancing means is simultaneously positioned to advance the next clip (22). When all clips (22) are spent the apparatus becomes automatically locked against further advancement of the clip advancing means as well as further closing of the clip closing jaws (24). The present apparatus also makes it possible to partially close a clip (22) without interfering with the sequential movement of the clip advancing mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Green
- 👤 Richard A. Mcgarry
- 👤 Henry Bolanos
- 👤 Lisa M. Heaton
- 👤 Wayne P. Young
- 👤 Keith Ratcliff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/128; A61B17/1285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue which comprises: a) frame means; b) endoscopic means connected to said frame means of generally elongated configuration and extending distally from said frame means and including: i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips; ii) means for selectively advancing said clips to the distal portion of said endoscopic means for positioning adjacent the body tissue to be clipped; and iii) means for at least partially closing each said clip at least sufficient to grip the body tissue after the clip has been advanced distally to said predetermined portion of said endoscopic means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue which comprises: a) frame means; b) endoscopic means connected to said frame means of generally elongated configuration and extending distally from said frame means and including: i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips; ii) means for selectively advancing said clips to the distal portion of said endoscopic means for positioning adjacent the body tissue to be clipped; and iii) means for at least partially closing each said clip at least sufficient to grip the body tissue after the clip has been advanced distally to said predetermined portion of said endoscopic means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
A disposable apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue which comprises: a) a frame; b) an elongated endoscopic section connected at the proximal end thereof to said frame and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic section including: i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips; ii) a pair of jaws positioned at the distal portion of said endoscopic section and adapted for reception of said clips; iii) means for advancing said clips distally for positioning within said pair of jaws to be positioned adjacent the body tissue to be clipped; and iv) means for at least partially closing said jaws about each said clip to close said clips at least partially about the body tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
A disposable apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue which comprises: a) a frame; b) an elongated endoscopic section connected at the proximal end thereof to said frame and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic section including: i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips; ii) a pair of jaws positioned at the distal portion of said endoscopic section and adapted for reception of said clips; iii) means for advancing said clips distally for positioning within said pair of jaws to be positioned adjacent the body tissue to be clipped; and iv) means for at least partially closing said jaws about each said clip to close said clips at least partially about the body tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
A disposable apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue which comprises: a) a frame configured and dimensioned for manual gripping; b) an elongated endoscopic section connected at the proximal end thereof to said frame and extending distally therefrom, said endoscopic section including: i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips in generally aligned relation facing the distal portion thereof; ii) jaw means positioned at the distal end thereof and adapted for sequential reception of said clips; iii) means for advancing said clips distally as to be positioned between said jaw means for positioning adjacent the body tissue to be clipped; and iv) means for selectively at least partially closing said jaw means about each said clip after the clip is advanced therebetween while simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means for distal advancement of the next clip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
A disposable apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue which comprises: a) a frame configured and dimensioned for manual gripping; b) an elongated endoscopic section connected at the proximal end thereof to said frame and extending distally therefrom, said endoscopic section including: i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips in generally aligned relation facing the distal portion thereof; ii) jaw means positioned at the distal end thereof and adapted for sequential reception of said clips; iii) means for advancing said clips distally as to be positioned between said jaw means for positioning adjacent the body tissue to be clipped; and iv) means for selectively at least partially closing said jaw means about each said clip after the clip is advanced therebetween while simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means for distal advancement of the next clip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said frame further comprises an instrument body and an actuating handle mounted to said instrument body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising first transmission means for linearly transferring motion from said actuating handle to said clip advancing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising means to close said jaw means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for locking said handle such that after actuating said handle to close said jaws said handle cannot be actuated unless said locking means is released.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said endoscopic section is rotatable independent of said handle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means to selectively lock said endoscopic section at a predetermined angular orientation relative to said handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said jaw means comprises a pair of jaws positioned in spaced relation and configured and dimensioned for reception of a surgical clip therebetween, said jaws being resiliently movable toward and away from each other in response to distal movement of a camming means from a proximal position to a distal position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said camming means comprises a channel member slidably mounted with said endoscopic section and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of said handle, said channel member having at least two distal camming surfaces for biasing the jaws into said closed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for storing surgical clips comprises a track for holding a longitudinal array of surgical clips, and spring means located proximal to the array of surgical clips for biasing said surgical clips toward the distal direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for advancing the surgical clips comprises a pusher bar for advancing the distal-most clip in the area of said pair of jaws, said pusher bar being longitudinally slidable in response to actuation of said handle, and escapement means located at the distal end of the array of clips for preventing the next clip from being dislocated prior to advancement into said jaw means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said escapement means comprises at least one projection upstanding from said clip track and extending into the clip path to prevent proximal movement of a clip after advancement into said jaw means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a first pusher tube has mounting means for rotatably connecting said pusher bar thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said mounting means of said pusher tube comprises a generally circular shaped projection dimensioned for reception and engagement of at least one cooperating projection on said pusher bar.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said jaw means comprises a jaw blade fixed to the endoscopic section and having a pair of distal spaced jaws which are resiliently movable between a closed position for closing a surgical clip and an open position for reception of the surgical clip, and said camming means comprised of a channel member having camming surfaces movable from a first position proximal of said jaws, and a second distal position wherein said camming surfaces of said channel member move said jaws to the closed position, said channel member being connected at its proximal end to said channel tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said endoscopic section is disposable and said frame is reusable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said endoscopic section is rotatable between a plurality of click-stop settings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said endoscopic section is adapted to provide a gaseous seal means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for endoscopically applying surgical clips using an apparatus having a frame adapted to be gripped by hand and an endoscopic section connected to said frame and rotatable to selected positions relative to said frame, comprising: a) storing the clips in said endoscopic section; b) advancing a clip distally by clip advancing means positioned within said endoscopic section to a pair of jaws positioned at the distal end of said endoscopic section; c) positioning the clip adjacent body tissue to be clipped; d) closing the jaws about the clip while simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means to a position proximal of the next clip to be advanced; and e) releasably locking said clip advancing means in said position until released to advance the next clip.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for endoscopically applying surgical clips using an apparatus having a frame adapted to be gripped by hand and an endoscopic section connected to said frame and rotatable to selected positions relative to said frame, comprising: a) storing the clips in said endoscopic section; b) advancing a clip distally by clip advancing means positioned within said endoscopic section to a pair of jaws positioned at the distal end of said endoscopic section; c) positioning the clip adjacent body tissue to be clipped; d) closing the jaws about the clip while simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means to a position proximal of the next clip to be advanced; and e) releasably locking said clip advancing means in said position until released to advance the next clip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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