# US 10,307,162 B2 · Hermetic rotating handle assembly for a surgical clip applier for laparoscopic procedures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,162 B2 - Document ID: US10307162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/238,435 - Filed: 2016-08-16 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-06 - Assignees: Conmed Corporation - Applicants: CONMED Corporation - Inventors: Pavel Menn; Nathaniel Rosso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307162B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 17/2909: {Handles} - A61B 90/08: {Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/2925: {Pistol grips} - A61B 2090/0813: {Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract This invention provides hermetically-sealed handle assembly with a rotating trigger for use with disposable components, such as surgical clip appliers. The rotating trigger reduces the gripping force necessary to fully control the internal actuator mechanism to operate a disposable surgical clip applier to fully ligate a vessel or other tissue. The hermetic seal on the handle assembly prevents any patient fluids and other bioburden from entering the internal structures. This reduces the possibility of cross-contamination and the costs of sterilization. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A endoscopic surgical tool, comprising: a housing comprising a hermetically-sealed handle assembly; a trigger shaft having a first portion, a second portion, and defining a first axis, the first portion extending through a first opening in the housing, and the second portion extending through a second opening in the housing; a first sealing member disposed and configured to hermetically seal the first portion of the trigger shaft extending through the first opening in the housing; a second sealing member disposed and configured to hermetically seal the second portion of the trigger shaft extending through the second opening in the housing; and a trigger grip operably coupled to the first portion of the trigger shaft and to a trigger spine and operably coupled to the second portion of the trigger shaft, the trigger grip configured to rotate about a second axis in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction when actuating the endoscopic surgical tool and applying a force to the trigger grip in a direction toward the handle assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscopic surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis are substantially perpendicular. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endoscopic surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member comprise spring seal washers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endoscopic surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member comprise disc springs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The endoscopic surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the housing is nondisposable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endoscopic surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a single piece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endoscopic surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two coupled pieces with complementary configurations. ### Claim 8 An apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a handle assembly; a trigger shaft, the trigger shaft having a first portion, a second portion, and defining a first axis, the first portion extending through a first opening in the housing, and the second portion extending through a second opening in the housing; and a trigger assembly including a rotating trigger, the rotating trigger operably coupled to the first portion of the trigger shaft and operably coupled to the second portion of the trigger shaft, the rotating trigger configured to rotate about the first axis, wherein the rotating trigger comprises: a trigger spine operably coupled to the first portion of the trigger shaft and operably coupled to the second portion of the trigger shaft, the trigger spine defining a second axis; and a trigger grip coupled to the trigger spine, the trigger grip disposed and configured to rotate about the second axis defined by the trigger spine, wherein the trigger grip is configured to rotate about the second axis in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction when a force is applied to the trigger grip in a direction towards the handle assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a first trigger shaft bearing disposed around the first portion of the trigger shaft and coupled to the housing; and a second trigger shaft bearing disposed around the second portion of the trigger shaft and coupled to the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a first sealing member disposed around the first portion of the trigger shaft; and a second sealing member disposed around the second portion of the trigger shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member are configured to prevent bioburden from entering an inner volume. ### Claim 12 An apparatus, comprising: a housing comprising a hermetically-sealed handle assembly; a trigger shaft having a first portion, a second portion, and defining a first axis, the first portion extending through a first opening in the housing, and the second portion extending through a second opening in the housing; a first sealing member disposed and configured to hermetically seal the first portion of the trigger shaft extending through the first opening in the housing; a second sealing member disposed and configured to hermetically seal the second portion of the trigger shaft extending through the second opening in the housing; and a trigger assembly operably coupled to the first portion of the trigger shaft and operably coupled to the second portion of the trigger shaft, wherein the trigger assembly includes a rotating trigger, the rotating trigger operably coupled to the first portion of the trigger shaft and operably coupled to the second portion of the trigger shaft, the rotating trigger configured to rotate about the first axis, wherein the rotating trigger comprises: a trigger spine operably coupled to the first portion of the trigger shaft and operably coupled to the second portion of the trigger shaft, the trigger spine defining a second axis, and a trigger grip coupled to the trigger spine, the trigger grip disposed and configured to rotate about the second axis defined by the trigger spine, wherein the trigger grip is configured to rotate about the second axis in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction when a force is applied to the trigger grip in a direction towards the handle assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member provide a force between the housing and the trigger assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member comprise disc springs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member comprise spring seal washers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member provide an air seal between the housing and the trigger assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member are configured to prevent bioburden from entering an inner volume of the housing.