Surgical clip applying instrument

Claim 1

A surgical clip applicator comprising 25 a handle member; a trigger member pivotally connected to said handle member; an elongated tubular jaw assembly comprising a tube member having a forward facing jaw on the 30 distal end thereof and a rod member extending through said tube member and having a rearward facing jaw on the distal end thereof; means for rotatably mounting said jaw assembly on said handle member; 35 means on said mounted jaw assembly engaging said trigger member for axially displacing said tube member relative to said rod member and said forward facing jaw relative to said rearward facing jaw. 40 means aligning said forward facing and rearward facing jaws whereby said jaws are axially movable but nonrotatable with respect to each other; and means for rotating said mounted tubular jaw assembly with said jaws in alignment. 45 2. An applicator of Claim 1 wherein said tubular jaw assembly is mounted on a pair of spaced-apart cradles integral with said handle member. 3. An applicator of Claim 2 wherein said tubular jaw assembly is rotatably secured on said cradles by 50 a pair of overlying inverted U-shaped clips secured to said handle member. 4. An applicator of Claim 1 wherein said trigger member terminates in a yoke extending toward said mounted jaw assembly. 55 5. An applicator of Claim 4 wherein a ring secured to and extending from said tube member of said jaw assembly is engaged by the yoke of said trigger member. 6. An applicator of Claim 1 wherein said trigger 60 member is biased away from said handle member in a normally open position. 7. An applicator of Claim 1 wherein said rotat-able rod member is restrained against axial movement. 65 8. An applicator of Claim 1 wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are aligned by a flange extending from said rod member into a cooperating slot in said tubular member, 9. A surgical clip applicator comprising a handle member; a pair of spaced-apart cradles integral with said handle member at one end thereof; a trigger member pivotally connected to said handle member and extending into the space between said cradles; an elongated tubular jaw assembly rotatably mounted on said cradles, said jaw assembly comprising an axially movable tube member having a forward facing jaw on the distal end thereof and a rod member extending through said tube member and having a rearward facing jaw on the distal end thereof; means on said tube member intermediate said cradles engaging said trigger member; means on the proximal end of said rod member restraining said rod member from movement in an axial direction while permitting rotation thereof; means aligning said forward facing and rearward facing jaws, said jaws being axially movable but nonrotatable with respect to each other; and means for rotating said mounted tubular jaw assembly with said jaws in alignment. 10. An applicator of Claim 9 wherein said trigger member terminates in a yoke extending into the space between said cradles. 11. An applicator of Claim 10 wherein said yoke of said trigger member engages a ring secured to and extending from said tube member of said jaw assembly. 12. An applicator of Claim 9 wherein said trigger member is biased away from said handle member in a normally open position. 13. An applicator of Claim 9 wherein said rod member is restrained from axial movement by means of a circumferential groove therein engaging a cooperating slot extending from said handle member. 14. An applicator of Claim 9 wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are aligned by means of a flange extending from said rod member into a cooperating slot in said tubular member. 15. An applicator of Claim 9wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are at right angles to the axis of said tubular jaw assembly. 16. Asurgical clip applicator comprising a handle member; a pair of spaced-apart cradles integral with said handle member at one end thereof; a trigger member pivotally connected to said handle member and extending into the space between said cradles; an elongated tube member rotatably and slidably mounted on said pair of cradles and having a forward facing jaw on the distal end thereof; means on said tube member intermediate said pair of cradles engaging said trigger member; an elongated rod member extending through said tube member having a rearward facing jaw on the distal end thereof; means on the proximal end of said rod member 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 5 GB 2 044 108 A 5 restraining said rod member from movement in an axial direction while permitting rotation thereof; means aligning said forward facing and rearward facing jaws, said jaws being axially movable but 5 nonrotatable with respect to each other; and means for rotating said mounted tube and rod members as a unit with said jaws in alignment. 17. An applicator of Claim 16 wherein said trigger memberterminates in a yoke extending into 10 the space between said cradles. 18. An applicator of Claim 17 wherein said yoke of said trigger member engages a ring secured to and extending from said tube member. 19. An applicator of Claim 16 wherein said 15 trigger member is biased away from said handle member in a normally open position. 20. An applicator of Claim 16 wherein said rod member is restrained from axial movement by means of a circumferential groove therein engaging 20 a cooperating slot extending from said handle member. 21. An applicator of Claim 16 wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are aligned by means of a flange extending from said rod member 25 into a cooperating slot in said tubular member. 21. An applicator of Claim 16 wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are at right angles to the axis of said tubular jaw assembly. 23. An applicator of Claim 16 wherein said 30 forward and rearward facing jaws are angled up to about 20 degrees from vertical relative to the axis of said tubular jaw assembly. 24. A surgical clip applicator comprising a handle member; 35 a pair of space-apart cradles integral with said handle member at one end thereof; a trigger member pivotally connected to said handle member and extending into the space between said cradles; 40 first and second stop means limiting the travel of said trigger member relative to said handle member; means for biasing said trigger member against said first stop means away from said handle member in a normally open position; 45 an elongated tube member rotatably and slidably mounted on said pair of cradles and having a forward facing jaw on the distal end thereof; means on said tube member intermediate said pair of cradles engaging said trigger member; 50 an elongated rod member extending through said tube member having a rearward facing jaw on the distal end thereof; means on the proximal end of said rod member restraining said rod member from axial movement 55 while permitting rotation thereof; means aligning said forward facing and rearward facing jaws, said jaws being axially movable but nonrotatable with respect to each other; and means for rotating said mounted tube and rod 60 members as a unit with said jaws in alignment, said jaws being normally biased apart by said trigger member a first predetermined distance according to said first stop means, and closing to a second predetermined distance according to said second 65 stop means as said trigger member is urged toward said handle member and against said second stop means. 25. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said trigger memberterminates in a yoke extending into 70 the space between said cradles. 26. An applicator of Claim 25 wherein said yoke of said trigger member engages a ring secured to and extending from said tube member. 27. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said rod 75 member is restrained from axial movement by means of a circumferential groove therein engaging a cooperating slot extending from said handle member. 28. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said 80 forward and rearward facing jaws are aligned by means of a flange extending from said rod member into a cooperating slot in said tubular member. 29. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said first and second stop means comprise set screws extend- 85 ing through said cradles and into the space between said cradles. 30. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said jaws are biased apart a first predetermined distance corresponding to the width of a surgical clip. 90 31. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said jaws close to a second predetermined distance corresponding to the thickness of a closed surgical clip. 32. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are at right angles 95 to the axis of said tubular jaw assembly. 33. An applicator of Claim 24 wherein said forward and rearward facing jaws are angled up to about 20 degrees from vertical relative to the axis of said tubular jaw assembly. 100 34. An applicator according to claim 1,9,16 or 24, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon Surrey, 1980. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.