Multiple clip applier

Claim 2

A scissors-type medical instrument for applying a plurality of ligating clips comprising: first and second jaws disposed in confronting 105 relationship and adapted to be pivoted together by the scissors action of the instrument to hold and set a ligating clip; first and second scissors handles operatively connected to said jaws to open and close said 110 jaws; a mechanism disposed between the jaws and the handles, operating in the plane of the handles and driven by the normal opening and closing action of the scissors handles and 115 including: means for providing a reciprocating long stroke motion for delivering clips to the jaws; and, means synchronized with said long stroke 120 motion means for providing a reciprocating short stroke motion for feeding clips in succession.

Claim 3

The instrument of Claim 1 further including an elongated handle body to one end 125 of which is integrally connected said first scissors handle and to the other end of which is integrally connected said first jaw; a movable handle pivotably connected to said handle body; 130 a movable jaw member pivotably connected 10 GB2 088 723A 10 to said handle body, said second jaw integrally connected to one end of said movable jaw member, an extension lever extending from the other end of said movable jaw mem-5 ber rearwardly of said movable jaw member pivot point toward said movable handle, said extension lever aligned to engage said movable handle as said movable handle closes toward said fixed handle; 10 the pivot point of said movable jaw member and said movable handle being disposed on said handle body so that the scissors handles move from a fully open position to a partially closed position before said movable jaw exten-15 sion lever and said movable handle engage to close the jaws.

Claim 4

The instrument of Claim 2 further including: an extension arm extending from said, mov-20 able handle in the plane of said first and second scissors handles over said handle body; a cam pivotably mounted on said handle body and having a cam surface operatively engag-25 ing said extension arm; a delivery slot in said handle body; a delivery link having a first end pivotably connected to said cam and having a second end operatively engaging said delivery slot, 30 said extension arm and said cam cooperating to drive said delivery link in a reciprocating long stroke motion toward and away from said jaws as said handles are opened and closed; and, 35 spring bias means for biasing said delivery link toward said jaws.

Claim 5

The instrument of Claim 2 further including a ratchet slot in said handle body; a ratchet link having one end pivotably con-40 nected to said movable jaw member and having the other end operatively engaging said ratchet slot, said movable jaw extension lever and said movable handle cooperating to drive said ratchet link in a reciprocating short 45 stoke motion toward and away from said jaws as said handles are opened and closed; the shape of said cam surface and the pivot points of said cam, said movavle handle and said movable jaw member being positioned to 50 synchronize the long stroke motion of said delivery link and the short stroke motion of said ratchet link with the opening and closing of the jaws; second spring bias means for biasing said 55 ratchet link toward said jaws.

Claim 6

The apparatus of Claim 3 further including a delivery bushing extending from said second end of said delivery link through said delivery slot to the opposite side of said 60 handle body.

Claim 7

The instrument of Claim 4 further including a ratchet bushing extending from said second end of said ratchet link through said ratchet slot to the other side of said handle 65 body.

Claim 8

The instrument of Claim 3 wherein said cam includes a slot providing a complex cam surface having a first portion and a second portion; 70 the first portion of said complex cam surface providing controlled long stroke motion for said delivery link in response to a first part of the opening or closing of said scissors handles; 75 the second portion of said complex cam slot providing a dwell so that said delivery link will remain stationary in response to a second part of the opening and closing of the scissors handles; 80

Claim 9

The instrument of Claim 1 further including a cartridge of ligating clips disposed adjacent the plane of said mechanism and including a number of clips arrayed in a line from the first position adjacent said jaws for a 85 desired number of positions extending rearwardly from said jaws toward said handles; an elongated delivery means disposed in said cartridge and aligned between said clips and said mechanism and adapted to reciprocate in 90 response to said long stroke motion means for delivering a clip from said first position to said jaws; ratchet means disposed in said cartridge and operatively engaging said plurality of clips and 95 adapted to reciprocate in response to said short stroke motion means to feed said clips to said first position.

Claim 10

The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein said jaws are offset below the plane of said handle 100 and aligned with said delivery means; each of said jaws having a U-shaped channel disposed in confronting relationship for receiving said clip and said delivery means and for holding said ligating clip as it is being ap- 105 plied.

Claim 11

The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said jaws are slightly tapered toward one another in a direction advancing toward the tip of the jaws when the handles are in the 110 fully opened position.

Claim 12

The instrument of Claim 8 wherein said jaws are slightly curved away from the plane of said handles to provide a greater visibility for the tip of the jaws and for a clip - 115 while it is being applied.

Claim 13

The instrument of Claim 11 wherein said delivery means is flexible to accommodate the curve of said jaws as said delivery means is inserted into the jaws. 120

Claim 14

The instrument of Claim 8 wherein said delivery means includes axially extending flexible fingers having tips and wherein each tip is tapered to conform to the shape of the confronting clip so that said delivery means 125 may push said clip into said jaws; the synchronized motion of said long stroke motion means adapted to push a clip to the end of the jaws as the handles are fully opened and to fully retract the delivery means 130 as the handles move from the fully open to a GB2088723A 11 partially closed position before the jaws begin to close.

Claim 15

The instrument of Claim 8 wherein said delivery means includes axially extending 5 fingers having tips; said finger tips including recesses for receiving and holding a clip while it is delivered to said jaws and while said jaws are closed to apply the clip; 10 the synchronized motion of said delivery means synchronized to fully retract the delivery means when the scissors handles are fully opened and to carry said clip to the end of said jaws as the scissors handles are moved 15 from the fully opened to the partially closed position before the jaws are closed and to hold the delivery means in the jaws while the jaws are being closed to apply the clip.

Claim 16

A disposable cartridge for a plurality 20 of ligating clips comprising: an elongated housing; a plurality of clips arrayed in a line in said housing from a first position to successive positions placed longitudinally along the hous-25 ing; delivery means adapted for long stroke reciprocating motion in said housing for delivering clips from said first position in said housing; 30 feeding means adapted for short stroke reciprocating motion for feeding successive clips to said first position; and, transfer means for moving a clip from said first position into engagement with said deliv-35 ery means.

Claim 17

A disposable cartridge for a plurality 20 of ligating clips comprising: an elongated housing; a plurality of clips arrayed in a line in said housing from a first position to successive positions placed longitudinally along the hous-25 ing; delivery means adapted for long stroke reciprocating motion in said housing for delivering clips from said first position in said housing; 30 feeding means adapted for short stroke reciprocating motion for feeding successive clips to said first position; and, transfer means for moving a clip from said first position into engagement with said deliv-35 ery means.

Claim 18

The cartridge of Claim 15 wherein said feeding means includes: a fixed rack secured in said housing; a movable rack slidably mounted in said hous-40 ing; each of said racks including a plurality of sets of resilient fingers projecting from its respective supporting rack toward the other rack; whereby clips are advanced along said fixed 45 rack by the short stroke reciprocating motion of said movable rack and the interaction of said fingers with said clips; said clips being disposed between said racks.

Claim 19

The cartridge of Claim 1 5 wherein 50 said housing includes means for guiding said delivery means in its long stroke reciprocating motion.

Claim 20

The cartridge of Claim 17 wherein said delivery means includes a pusher for 55 pushing said clip from said housing; and, wherein said guiding means includes stop means for limiting the motion of said pusher; and, said pusher includes shoulder means cooper-60 ating with said stop means; and, elongated resilient fingers projecting from one end of said pusher for engaging a clip.

Claim 21

The cartridge of Claim 17 wherein said delivery means includes a carrier for 65 engaging and holding a clip as it is delivered from said cartridge.

Claim 22

The cartridge of Claim 16 wherein said housing has an elongated generally Li-shaped configuration having a transverse base 70 defining a first plane and two upstanding, generally parallel walls and wherein said fixed rack is fixedly disposed in said first plane; said movable rack being disposed for movement within said housing in a second plane 75 generally parallel to said first plane of said fixed rack; and wherein said delivery means is disposed for movement in a third plane gnerally parallel to said fixed rack; 80 and further including transfer means cooperating with said delivery means to transfer clips from said first position on said fixed rack to said second plane of said movable rack and then to further transfer the clips from said 85 second plane of said movable rack to said third plane of said delivery means.

Claim 23

The cartridge of Claim 20 wherein said transfer means includes extension arms extending longitudinally from the upstanding 90 walls of said U-shaped housing; connection means extending between the ends of said extension arms, said extension arms, said connecting means and the end of the base of said U-shaped housing defining a 95 space adjacent said first clip position; and, spring means extending into said space;

Claim 24

The cartridge of Claim 21 wherein said spacing means extends from said connecting means into said space and further 100 including a transfer wedge disposed in said space and connected to said spacing means.

Claim 25

The cartridge of Claim 21 wherein said spring means includes a flexible projection extending longitudinally from said hous- 105 ing base; and, a raised boss afixed to said spacing means and projecting generally perependicular to the plane of said base for engaging a clip as it is advanced from said first position into said 110 space, said boss adapted to transfer said clips to the plane of said moving rack.

Claim 26

An instrument as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described with reference to any Figure or Figures of the accompanying 115 drawings.

Claim 27

A cartridge as claimed in claim 15, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd.—1982. Published at The Patent Office. 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.