Apparatus for effecting occlusion of the vas deferens

Claim 2

Apparatus for implanting a closable locking clip to effect the percutaneous occlusion of a target vessel comprising first and second jaw members relatively pivotable between opened and closed positions, said first and second jaw members defining a clip-retaining cavity therebetween, said clip-retaining cavity having sufficient size to accommodate said locking clip therein, clip moving means for slidably moving said locking clip from a retracted position displaced from said clip-retaining cavity to an actuated position within said clip-retaining cavity, and camming means disposed within said clip-retaining cavity whereby upon said slidable movement of said locking clip from said retracted position to said actuated position said camming means causes at least a partial closure of said locking clip.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including relative jaw pivot means for pivoting said first and second jaw members between said opened and closed positions.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said camming means is associated with one of said first and second jaw members, whereby upon said pivoting of said first and second jaw members into said closed position said camming means correspondingly pivots towards said other one of said first and second jaw members further facilitating said at least partial closure of said locking clip.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said one of said first and second jaw members includes an inner surface defining a portion of said clip-retaining cavity, and wherein said camming means comprises an angularly displaced wall surface of said inner surface of said one of said first and second jaw members.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second-jaw members include first and second ends, respectively, said first ends of said first and second jaw members corresponding to said clip-retaining cavity, and said first and second jaw members being relatively pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second ends of said first and second jaw members, and said relative jaw pivot means comprising moving means for moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other so as to pivot said first and second jaw members about said fixed pivot point and thereby open and close said first ends of said first and second jaw members.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said moving means comprises slide means relatively slidable between a first position distal from said clip-retaining cavity and a second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said slide means includes track means, and wherein said second end of one of said first and second jaw members includes track follower means whereby upon said sliding of said slide means between said first and second positions said track follower means follows said track means thereby moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said moving means further comprises handle means for sliding said slide means between said first and second positions.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said handle means comprises first and second pivotable handle members, said first and second pivotable handle members including a first end and a second end and being pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second ends thereof, said first ends of said first and second pivotable handle members including gripping means and said second ends of said first and second pivotable handle members being in contact with said slide means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said slide means includes slot means substantially transverse to the direction defined by movement of said slide means between said first and second positions, and wherein said second ends of said first and second pivotable handle members include first and second slot follower means, whereby upon said pivoting of said first and second pivotable handle members said first and second slot follower means travel within said slot means while causing said slide means to slide between said first and second positions.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip moving means comprises a slidable pusher member including a first end proximate to said clip-retaining cavity and a second end distal from said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said clip moving means includes pivotable handle means including a first end distal from said second end of said slidable pusher member and a second end proximate to said second end of said slidable pusher member and in contact therewith, said pivotable handle means being pivotable about a point intermediate of said first and second ends of said pivotable handle means whereby pivoting of said pivotable handle means results in longitudinal displacement of said slidable pusher member.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said slidable pusher member includes groove means substantially transverse to the direction defined by said longitudinal displacement of said slidable pusher member, and wherein said pivotable handle means includes, groove follower means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13 including relative jaw pivot means for pivoting said first and second jaw members between said open and closed positions.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first and second jaw members include first and second ends, respectively, said first ends of said first and second jaw members corresponding to said clip-retaining cavity, and said first and second jaw members being relatively pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second ends of said first and second jaw members, and said relative jaw pivot means comprising moving means for moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other so as to pivot said first and second jaw members about said fixed pivot point and thereby open and close said first ends of said first and second jaw members.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said moving means comprises slide means relatively slidable between a first position distal from said clip-retaining cavity and a second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said slide means includes track means, and wherein said second end of one of said first and second jaw members includes track follower means whereby upon said sliding of said slide means between said first and second positions said track follower means follows said track means thereby moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said moving means further comprises handle means for sliding said slide means between said first and second positions.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said handle means comprises first and second pivotable handle members, said first pivotable handle member comprising said clip moving means, and said first and second pivotable handle members including first ends and second ends, said first ends of said first and second pivotable handle members including gripping means and said second ends of said first and second pivotable handle members being capable of contacting said slide means.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said slide means includes slot means substantially transverse to the direction defined by movement of said slide means between said first and second positions, and wherein said second ends of said first and second pivotable handle members include first and second slot follower means, whereby upon said pivoting of said first and second pivotable handle members said first and second slot follower means travel within said slot means while causing said slide means to slide between said first and second positions, said first slot follower means comprising said groove follower means.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said slot means comprises first and second slot members associated with said first and second pivotable handle members, said first slot member including an aperture thereon, whereby said first slot follower means can exit said first slot member through said aperture, said first pivotable handle member being pivotable between a first position at one end of said first slot member and a second position at the other end of said first slot member, said second position being adjacent to said aperture, and said first pivotable handle member being pivotable into a third position whereby said first slot follower means pivots out of said aperture and remains in said groove means and thereby results in longitudinal displacement of said slidable pusher member.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said handle means comprises a pivotable handle member, said pivotable handle member including a first end and a second end, said first end of said pivotable handle member including gripping means and said second end of said pivotable handle member being capable of contacting said slide means.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said slide means includes slot means substantially transverse to the direction defined by movement of said slide means between said first and second positions, and wherein said second end of said pivotable handle member includes slot follower means, whereby upon said pivoting of said pivotable handle member said slot follower means travels within said slot means while causing said slide means to slide between said first and second positions.

Claim 25

Apparatus for implanting a closeable locking clip to effect the percutaneous occulsion of a target vessel comprising first and second jaw members relatively pivotable between open and closed positions, said first and second jaw members defining a clip-retaining cavity therebetween, said clip-retaining cavity having sufficient size to accommodate said locking clip therein, clip moving means for slidably moving said locking clip from a retracted position displaced from said clip-retaining cavity to an actuated position within said clip-retaining cavity, switch means slidable between a first position and a second position, said first position locking said first and second jaw members in said closed position, said second position locking said clip moving means from longitudinal displacement, and camming means disposed within said clip-retaining cavity whereby upon said slidable movement of said locking clip from said retracted position to said actuated position said camming means causes at least a partial closure of said locking clip.

Claim 26

Apparatus for implanting a closeable locking clip to effect the percutaneous occulsion of a target vessel comprising first and second jaw members relatively pivotable between open and closed positions, said first and second jaw members defining a clip-retaining cavity therebetween, said clip-retaining cavity having sufficient size to accommodate said locking clip therein, clip moving means for slidably moving said locking clip from a retracted position displaced from said clip-retaining cavity to an actuated position within said clip-retaining cavity, switch means slidable between a first position and a second position, said first position locking said first and second jaw members in said closed position, said second position locking said clip moving means from longitudinal displacement, and camming means disposed within said clip-retaining cavity whereby upon said slidable movement of said locking clip from said retracted position to said actuated position said camming means causes at least a partial closure of said locking clip.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 24 including relative jaw pivot means for pivoting said first and second jaw members between said open and closed positions.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said camming means is associated with one of said first and second jaw members, whereby upon said pivoting of said first and second jaw members into said closed position said camming means correspondingly pivots towards said other one of said first and second jaw members further facilitating said at least partial closure of said locking clip.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said one of said first and second jaw members includes an inner surface defining a portion of said clip-retaining cavity, and wherein said camming means comprises an angularly displaced wall surface of said inner surface of said one of said first and second jaw members.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said first and second jaw members include first and second ends, respectively, said first ends of said first and second jaw members corresponding to said clip-retaining cavity, and said first and second jaw members being relatively pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second ends of said first and second jaw members, and said relative jaw pivot means comprising moving means for moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other so as to pivot said first and second jaw members about said fixed pivot point and thereby open and close said first ends of said first and second jaw members.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said moving means comprises slide means relatively slidable between a first position distal from said clip-retaining cavity and a second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said slide means includes track means, an wherein said second end of one of said first and second jaw members includes track follower means whereby upon said sliding of said slide means between said first and second positions said track follower means follows said track means thereby moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said moving means further comprises handle means for sliding said slide means between said first and second positions.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said handle means comprises a first pivotable handle member, said first pivotable handle member including a first end and a second end and being pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second end thereof, said first end of said first pivotable handle member including gripping means and said second end of said first pivotable handle member being in contact with said slide means.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said switch means includes hook means for operative engagement with said second end of said pivotable handle member to lock said slide means in said second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said slide means includes slot means substantially transverse to the direction defined by movement of said slide means between said first and second positions, and wherein said second end of said first pivotable handle member includes slot follower means, whereby upon said pivoting of said first pivotable handle member said slot follower means travels within said slot means while causing said slide means to slide between said first and second positions.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said clip moving means comprises a slidable pusher member including a first end proximate to said clip-retaining cavity and a second end distal from said clipretaining cavity.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said clip moving means includes pivotable handle means including a first end distal from said second end of said slidable pusher member and a second end proximate to said second end of said slidable pusher member and in contact therewith, said pivotable handle means being pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second ends of said pivotable handle means whereby pivoting of said pivotable handle means results in longitudinal displacement of said slidable pusher member.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said switch means includes tab means for operative engagement with said second end of said pivotable handle means to lock said slidable pusher member from longitudinal displacement.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said slidable pusher member includes means substantially transverse to the direction defined by said longitudinal displacement of said slidable pusher member, and wherein said pivotable handle means includes groove follower means.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 35 including for pivoting said first and second jaw members between said open and closed positions.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said first and second jaw members include first and second ends, respectively, said first ends of said first and second jaw members corresponding to said clip-retaining cavity, and said first and second jaw members being relatively pivotable about a fixed pivot point intermediate of said first and second ends of said first and second jaw members, and said relative jaw pivot means comprising moving means for from moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other so as to pivot said first and second jaw members about said fixed pivot point and thereby open and close said first ends of said first and second jaw members.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said moving means comprises slide means relatively slidable between a first position distal from said clip-retaining cavity and a second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said first position of said switch means locks said slide means in said second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said slide means includes track means, and wherein said second end of one of said first and second jaw members includes track follower means whereby upon said sliding of said slide means between said first and second positions said track follower means follows said track means thereby moving said second ends of said first and second jaw members relative to each other.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said moving means further comprises handle means for sliding said slide means between said first and second positions.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said handle means comprises a pivotable handle member, said pivotable handle member including a first end and a second end, said first end of said pivotable handle member including gripping means and said second end of said pivotable handle member being capable of contacting said slide means.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said switch means includes hook means for operative engagement with said second end of said pivotable handle member to lock said slide means in said second position relatively close to said clip-retaining cavity.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said slide means includes slot means substantially transverse to the direction defined by movement of said slide means between said first and second positions, and wherein said second end said pivotable handle member includes slot follower means, whereby upon said pivoting of said pivotable handle member said slot follower means travels within said slot means while causing said slide means to slide between said first and second positions.