US6743240B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible surgical device having a rotatable end effector assembly
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
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Filing: 2001-12-06
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Granted: 2004-06-01
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Expires: 2021-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A flexible clip applier includes a flat wire wound tubular coil, a pair of jaws at the end of the coil, end effector wires extending through the coil and coupled to the jaws, and a clip-advancing wire extending through the coil. A clip chamber is defined in the distal end of the coil. The clip-advancing wire includes a clip pusher which advances a clip into the jaws when the clip-advancing wire is moved distally. The jaws include channels in which a distalmost clip rides when the jaws are closed and the pusher is advanced, thereby causing the distalmost clip to be pushed over the tissue, and a distal anvil which operate to bend a portion of the clip to facilitate its retention on the clamped tissue. Rotation of the clip-advancing wire effects rotation of the jaws are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin W. Smith
- 👤 Robert Sixto, Jr.
- 👤 Juergen A. Kortenbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/02; G01B7/06; G01B7/10; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/128; A61B17/1285; A61B17/064; A61B17/0644; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2946; A61B17/32; A61B2017/320064; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44641; Y10T24/44744; Y10T24/44752
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A flexible surgical instrument, comprising: a) a flexible outer tubular member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; b) a flexible torqueable member extending through said tubular member and having proximal and distal ends; c) an attachment means for rotationally securing said flexible torqueable member to a distal end of said tubular member; and e) a handle assembly coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said flexible torqueable member and adapted to torque said proximal end of said flexible torqueable member relative to said tubular member which, through said attachment means, causes said distal end of said outer tubular member to rotate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A flexible surgical instrument, comprising: a) a flexible outer tubular member having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis; b) a flexible torqueable member extending through said tubular member and having proximal and distal ends; c) an attachment means for rotationally securing said flexible torqueable member to a distal end of said tubular member; and e) a handle assembly coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member and said flexible torqueable member and adapted to torque said proximal end of said flexible torqueable member relative to said tubular member which, through said attachment means, causes said distal end of said outer tubular member to rotate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein: said tubular member is a tubular coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein: said tubular coil is a flat wire wound coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein: said attachment means includes a connector fixedly coupled with said distal end of said tubular member, said connector defining a keyhole, and a key element provided at said distal end of said flexible member, said key element extending through said keyhole and defining a rotationally interfering key for said keyhole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein: said key element of said flexible torqueable member is longitudinally movable relative to said keyhole of said connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein: said connector includes a catch, and said flexible torqueable member includes a plurality of structures which interfere with said catch when any one of said structures is attempted to be moved proximally relative to said catch to thereby substantially prevent proximal movement of said flexible torqueable member a distance which would cause one of the structures located distal of the catch to be moved proximal of said catch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 6 , wherein: said catch permits movement of said structures distally past said catch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein: said tubular member is a coil including a plurality of turns, and said coil is preloaded such that each turn in said coil is substantially in contact with an adjacent turn 360° around said coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising: f) an inner sheath extending within said tubular member between said handle and said connector, said sheath having a non-circular cross-section and including a lumen through which said flexible torqueable member extends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein: said flexible torqueable member is longitudinally movable relative to said attachment means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein: said handle assembly includes a stationary handle and a rotation knob extending relative to said stationary handle, said rotation knob also being coupled to said proximal end of said flexible torqueable member, wherein rotation of said knob causes a torque to be applied to said proximal end of said flexible torqueable member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein: said rotation knob is telescopically coupled to said proximal end of said flexible torqueable member, such that when said flexible torqueable member is moved longitudinally through said tubular member, said rotation knob remains at a fixed extension relative to said stationary handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising: f) an end effector assembly coupled to said distal end of said tubular member; and g) at least one end effector control element extending through said tubular member and having proximal and distal ends, said distal end coupled to said end effector assembly and said proximal end coupled to said handle assembly, said handle assembly being adapted to move said at least one end effector control element relative to said tubular member to effect operation of said end effector assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein: said end effector assembly includes a jaw mount defining a channel, and a pair of jaws, at least one of said jaws of said pair of jaws being rotatable on said jaw mount relative to the other of said jaws.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 14 , further comprising: h) a clip chamber formed by at least one of said tubular member and said end effector assembly, said clip chamber adapted to store at least one surgical clip, wherein when said handle is operated to cause said flexible torqueable member to be forced distally relative to said tubular member, sufficient force is provided by said flexible torqueable member to move a surgical clip over the clamped tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A flexible surgical instrument according to claim 15 , wherein: said clip chamber is at least partially formed by said tubular member, and is adapted to store a plurality of clips.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-01 | 2007-12-01 | 2008-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-01 | 2011-12-01 | 2012-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-01 | 2015-12-01 | 2016-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |