Hemostatic clip applicator

Claim 2

A clip magazine adapted to be externally attached to a surgical clip applying device having clip deforming means for receiving and deforming clips, comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; and (ii) a laminated clip feed means slideably disposed within said housing and adapted to slide into and out of said clip deforming means, for sequentially moving said clips to said clip deforming means, said laminated clip feed means comprising a plurality of thin blades which are uncoupled from each other over a portion of their length.

Claim 3

The clip magazine of claim 1 wherein said clip feed means is an elongated member longitudinally disposed within said housing.

Claim 4

The clip magazine of claim 2 wherein said clip feed means includes a leading edge adapted to generally conform to the bail portion of said clips.

Claim 5

The clip magazine of claim 3 wherein said leading edge of said clip feed means is generally "V" shaped.

Claim 6

The clip magazine of claim 2 wherein said clip feed means is a blade member comprised of a plurality of laminated strips adapted to move longitudinally while bending laterally.

Claim 7

The clip magazine of claim 5 wherein said feed means includes a generally "V" shaped leading edge.

Claim 8

A clip magazine adapted to be externally attached to a surgical clip applying device having clip deforming means for receiving and deforming clips, comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; (ii) a laminated clip feed means slideably disposed within said housing and adapted to slide into and out of said clip deforming means, for sequentially moving said clips to said clip deforming means; and (iii) a clip loading means slideably disposed within said housing and selectively coupled to said clip feed means.

Claim 9

A clip magazine adapted to be externally attached to a surgical clip applying device having clip deforming means for receiving and deforming clips, comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; (ii) a laminated clip feed means slideably disposed within said housing and adapted to slide into and out of said clip deforming means, for sequentially moving said clips to said clip deforming means; and (iii) a clip loading means slideably disposed within said housing and selectively coupled to said clip feed means.

Claim 10

The clip magazine of claim 7 wherein said clip loading means comprises a ratchet bar selectively coupled to said clip feed means and a pawl means selectively coupled to said ratchet bar for urging said clips through said housing.

Claim 11

The clip magazine of claim 8 wherein said ratchet bar has a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough and said pawl means has a resilient tab portion adapted to selectively engage said apertures such that forward movement of said ratchet bar causes forward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 12

The clip magazine of claim 9 wherein said pawl means has arm portions adapted to frictionally engage said housing for preventing rearward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 13

The clip magazine of claim 10 wherein said clip feed means has an elongated aperture disposed therethrough and said ratchet bar has a pin member coupled thereto and adapted to slide through said feed means aperture such that initial forward movement of said feed means does not result in forward movement of said ratchet bar while additional forward movement of said feed means results in forward movement of said ratchet bar.

Claim 14

The clip magazine of claim 11 wherein said pawl means has a leading edge adapted to correspond to the bail portion of said clip.

Claim 15

The clip magazine of claim 12 wherein said pawl means has a generally "V" shaped leading edge.

Claim 16

The clip magazine of claim 13 wherein said housing further includes a guide spring coupled thereto.

Claim 17

A clip magazine adapted to externally couple to a surgical clip applying device comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; (ii) clip feed means slideably disposed within said housing for sequentially ejecting said clips therefrom, and (iii) a clip loading means, slideably disposed within said housing and selectively coupled to said clip feed means, for loading clips in the clip feed means, said clip loading means including a ratchet bar selectively coupled to said clip feed means and a pawl means selectively coupled to said ratchet bar, for urging said clips through said housing, and said ratchet bar having a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough and said pawl means having a resilient tab portion adapted to selectively engage said apertures such that forward movement of said ratchet bar causes forward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 18

A clip magazine adapted to externally couple to a surgical clip applying device comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; (ii) clip feed means slideably disposed within said housing for sequentially ejecting said clips therefrom, and (iii) a clip loading means, slideably disposed within said housing and selectively coupled to said clip feed means, for loading clips in the clip feed means, said clip loading means including a ratchet bar selectively coupled to said clip feed means and a pawl means selectively coupled to said ratchet bar, for urging said clips through said housing, and said ratchet bar having a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough and said pawl means having a resilient tab portion adapted to selectively engage said apertures such that forward movement of said ratchet bar causes forward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 19

The clip magazine of claim 15 wherein said pawl means has arm portions adapted to frictionally engage said housing for preventing rearward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 20

The clip magazine of claim 16 wherein said clip feed means has an elongated aperture disposed therethrough and said ratchet bar has a pin member coupled thereto and adapted to slide through said feed means aperture such that initial forward movement of said feed means does not result in forward movement of said ratchet bar while additional forward movement of said feed means results in forward movement of said ratchet bar.

Claim 21

The clip magazine of claim 15 wherein said pawl means has a leading edge adapted to correspond to the bail portion of said clip.

Claim 22

The clip magazine of claim 18 wherein said pawl means has a generally "V" shaped leading edge to engage the trailing clip.

Claim 23

The clip magazine of claim 19 wherein said housing further includes a guide spring coupled thereto for guiding a clip from the clip loading means to the clip feed means.

Claim 24

A clip magazine for a surgical clip applicator device having jaw means for deforming a clip and a first member for actuating the clip magazine, comprising: a housing defining a groove for slidably holding a series of clips arranged in a longitudinal line with respect to the applicator; and clip loading means having a second member, for advancing the series of clips along the groove when the first member is actuated, to sequentially place each clip in a predetermined position to be fed to the jaw means; said clip loading means further having a slot in one of said first and second members and a pin carried by the other of said first and second members, said pin being disposed within the slot wherein an initial movement of the first member does not result in substantial movement of the second member until the pin engages an end of the slot wherein further movement of the first member actuates the second member of the clip loading means, and a subsequent reverse movement of the first member does not result in substantial movement of the second member until the pin engages the other end of the slot wherein further reverse movement of the first member retracts the second member of the clip loading means

Claim 25

A clip magazine for a surgical clip applicator device having jaw means for deforming a clip and a first member for actuating the clip magazine, comprising: a housing defining a groove for slidably holding a series of clips arranged in a longitudinal line with respect to the applicator; and clip loading means having a second member, for advancing the series of clips along the groove when the first member is actuated, to sequentially place each clip in a predetermined position to be fed to the jaw means; said clip loading means further having a slot in one of said first and second members and a pin carried by the other of said first and second members, said pin being disposed within the slot wherein an initial movement of the first member does not result in substantial movement of the second member until the pin engages an end of the slot wherein further movement of the first member actuates the second member of the clip loading means, and a subsequent reverse movement of the first member does not result in substantial movement of the second member until the pin engages the other end of the slot wherein further reverse movement of the first member retracts the second member of the clip loading means

Claim 26

The magazine of claim 21 wherein the first member comprises a clip feed bar for moving clips from the magazine to the jaw means and the second member comprises a ratchet bar.

Claim 27

A clip magazine adapted to be attached to a surgical clip applying device, comprising: a housing defining a groove for slideably holding a plurality of clips arranged in a longitudinal line with respect to the magazine; a ratchet bar positioned parallel to said groove, and a pawl means selectively coupled to said ratchet bar for engaging the clips within the groove and for urging said clips through said groove, wherein a movement of the ratchet bar in a first direction causes the pawl means to couple to the ratchet bar and move with the ratchet bar and a reverse movement of the ratchet bar uncouples the pawl means from the ratchet bar.

Claim 28

A clip magazine adapted to be attached to a surgical clip applying device, comprising: a housing defining a groove for slideably holding a plurality of clips arranged in a longitudinal line with respect to the magazine; a ratchet bar positioned parallel to said groove, and a pawl means selectively coupled to said ratchet bar for engaging the clips within the groove and for urging said clips through said groove, wherein a movement of the ratchet bar in a first direction causes the pawl means to couple to the ratchet bar and move with the ratchet bar and a reverse movement of the ratchet bar uncouples the pawl means from the ratchet bar.

Claim 29

A clip magazine adapted to be attached to a surgical clip applying device having clip deforming means for receiving and deforming clips, and clip feed means for sequentially moving said clips to said clip deforming means, said magazine comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; and (ii) a clip loading means slideably disposed within said housing and selectively coupled to said clip feed means, for loading clips in the clip feed means.

Claim 30

A clip magazine adapted to be attached to a surgical clip applying device having clip deforming means for receiving and deforming clips, and clip feed means for sequentially moving said clips to said clip deforming means, said magazine comprising: (i) a housing wherein a plurality of clips are stored; and (ii) a clip loading means slideably disposed within said housing and selectively coupled to said clip feed means, for loading clips in the clip feed means.

Claim 31

The clip magazine of claim 24 wherein said clip loading means comprises a ratchet bar selectively coupled to said clip feed means and a pawl means selectively coupled to said ratchet bar for urging said clips through said housing.

Claim 32

The clip magazine of claim 25 wherein said clip feed means has an elongated aperture disposed therethrough and said ratchet bar has a pin member coupled thereto and adapted to slide through said feed means aperture such that initial forward movement of said feed means does not result in forward movement of said ratchet bar while additional forward movement of said feed means results in forward movement of said ratchet bar.

Claim 33

The clip magazine of claim 25 wherein said ratchet bar has a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough and said pawl means has a resilient tab portion adapted to selectively engage said apertures such that forward movement of said ratchet bar causes forward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 34

The clip magazine of claim 27 wherein said pawl means has arm portions adapted to frictionally engage said housing for preventing rearward movement of said pawl means.

Claim 35

The clip magazine of claim 27 wherein said pawl means has a leading edge adapted to correspond to the bail portion of said clip.

Claim 36

The clip magazine of claim 27 wherein said pawl means has a generally "V" shaped leading edge.

Claim 37

The clip magazine of claim 24 wherein said housing further includes a guide spring coupled thereto.

Claim 38

A clip magazine for a surgical clip applicator device having jaw means for deforming a clip, and a clip feed blade for moving clips from the magazine to the jaw means, said magazine comprising: a housing for holding a plurality of clips; clip loading means having a member for advancing the clips through the magazine when the member is actuated in a reciprocating motion; and lost motion means for coupling the feed blade to the loading means member wherein a reciprocating motion of the clip feed blade causes a shorter reciprocating motion of the loading means member.

Claim 39

A clip magazine for a surgical clip applicator device having jaw means for deforming a clip, and a clip feed blade for moving clips from the magazine to the jaw means, said magazine comprising: a housing for holding a plurality of clips; clip loading means having a member for advancing the clips through the magazine when the member is actuated in a reciprocating motion; and lost motion means for coupling the feed blade to the loading means member wherein a reciprocating motion of the clip feed blade causes a shorter reciprocating motion of the loading means member.