Endoscopic clip applier

An endoscopic surgical clip applier for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the surgical clip applier comprising:

• an endoscopic portion including:
• an outer tube defining an outer diameter;
• a pair of jaws supported at a distal end of the outer tube, wherein the pair of jaws are movable between a fully opened condition and at least one approximated condition;
• a wedge plate slidably disposed within the endoscopic portion, the wedge plate defining a nose at a distal end thereof, wherein the wedge plate is movable between:
• a distal-most position wherein the nose is interposed between the pair of jaws to maintain the pair of jaws in the fully opened condition;
• and
• at least one proximal position wherein the nose of the wedge plate is at least partially withdrawn from between the pair of jaws to permit the pair of jaws to be placed in the at least one approximated condition;
• and
• a release mechanism connected to the wedge plate, the release mechanism slidably disposed within the outer tube and selectively directly actuatable from an exterior of the surgical clip applier, the release mechanism including a distal end coupled to the wedge plate and a proximal end projecting from within the surgical clip applier, wherein an actuation of the release mechanism withdraws the nose of the wedge plate at least partially from between the pair of jaws;
• wherein when the pair of jaws are in the fully opened condition the pair of jaws extend radially beyond the outer diameter of the outer tube;
• and when the pair of jaws are in the at least one approximated condition the pair of jaws have a transverse dimension equal to or less than the outer diameter of the outer tube.

An endoscopic surgical clip applier for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the surgical clip applier comprising:

• an endoscopic portion including:
• an outer tube having an outer diameter and defining a channel therein;
• at least one surgical clip disposed within the channel of the outer tube;
• a pair of jaws supported at a distal end of the outer tube, wherein the pair of jaws are movable between a fully opened condition and at least one approximated condition;
• a wedge plate slidably disposed within the endoscopic portion, the wedge plate defining a nose at a distal end thereof, wherein the wedge plate is movable between:
• a distal-most position wherein the nose is interposed between the pair of jaws to maintain the pair of jaws in the fully opened condition;
• and
• at least one proximal position wherein the nose of the wedge plate is at least partially withdrawn from between the pair of jaws to permit the pair of jaws to be placed in the at least one approximated condition;
• a clip pusher configured to individually, distally advance the at least one surgical clip towards the pair of jaws while the pair of jaws are in the fully opened condition;
• and
• a release mechanism connected to the wedge plate, the release mechanism slidably disposed within the outer tube and selectively directly actuatable from an exterior of the surgical clip applier, the release mechanism including a distal end coupled to the wedge plate and a proximal end projecting from within the surgical clip applier, wherein an actuation of the release mechanism withdraws the nose of the wedge plate at least partially from between the pair of jaws;
• wherein when the pair of jaws are in the fully opened condition the pair of jaws extend radially beyond the outer diameter of the outer tube;
• and when the pair of jaws are in the at least one approximated condition the pair of jaws have a transverse dimension equal to or less than the outer diameter of the outer tube.