# US 12,178,441 B2 · Clip-cartridge assembly and clip applicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,441 B2 - Document ID: US12178441B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/273,045 - Filed: 2019-11-13 - Published: 2021-10-21 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-29 - Assignees: Intocare Medical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Suzhou Intocare Medical Technology Co., Ltd - Inventors: Bingchao Zhou; Hui Zhang; Yunfeng Du; Dianchen Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178441B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/1222: {Packages or dispensers therefor (clip magazines incorporated in a clip-applying instrument A61B17/128; for surgical articles A61B50/30)} - A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2090/035: {preventing further rotation} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A clip-cartridge assembly and a clip applicator are provided. The clip-cartridge assembly includes a clip-cartridge, a clip delivery device, and a clip jaw provided on a side of the clip-cartridge. The clip-cartridge includes an accommodation cavity for placing a ligation clip and the clip delivery device; the clip delivery device includes an elastic member and a clip pushing block for pushing the ligation clip within the accommodation cavity to move; and if the clip jaw is closed, the elastic member, by an elastic force of the elastic member, drives the clip pushing block to move in a movement direction toward the clip jaw. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clip-cartridge assembly, comprising a clip-cartridge, a clip delivery device, and a clip jaw provided on a side of the clip-cartridge, wherein the clip-cartridge comprises an accommodation cavity for placing a ligation clip and the clip delivery device; the clip delivery device comprises an elastic member and a clip pushing block for pushing the ligation clip within the accommodation cavity to move; and if a distal end of the clip jaw is closed, the elastic member, by an elastic force of the elastic member, drives the clip pushing block to move in a movement direction toward the clip jaw from a proximal end of the clip jaw; wherein the elastic member is a first spring, and the first spring and the clip jaw are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the clip pushing block; the clip-cartridge assembly further comprises a brake member, the brake member comprises a limiter and a second spring, the second spring is connected to the limiter, the limiter is provided between the clip jaw and the clip-cartridge, the limiter is movable in the accommodation cavity in a direction that is perpendicular to a movement direction of the ligation clip in the accommodation cavity; meantime, if the distal end of the clip jaw is closed, an elastic force of the second spring drives at least a part of the limiter to exit from the accommodation cavity; and if the distal end of the clip jaw is opened, the proximal end of the clip jaw pushes the limiter to enter into the accommodation cavity to prevent a next ligation clip from entering into the clip jaw from the proximal end of the clip jaw. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the clip jaw comprises a first clip jaw sheet and a second clip jaw sheet, the first clip jaw sheet comprises a first jaw and a first jaw base connected to the first jaw, the second clip jaw sheet comprises a second jaw and a second jaw base connected to the second jaw; and the first jaw base, the second jaw base and the clip-cartridge are respectively provided with a first mounting groove for mounting the brake member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are provided with a positioning groove; and after entering into the clip jaw, the ligation clip is accommodated in the positioning groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 2, wherein a mounting part is provided on the clip-cartridge, a bump is provided on the mounting part, the clip jaw is provided with a second mounting groove matching with the bump, and the bump is inserted into the second mounting groove so that the clip jaw is mounted onto the mounting part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second mounting groove is provided on the first jaw base and the second jaw base, and a torsion spring for driving the clip jaw to open is provided in the second mounting groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first mounting groove of the second jaw base penetrates through the second jaw base; the first mounting groove of the first jaw base is only provided at a surface of the first jaw base but does not penetrate through the first jaw base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the limiter is a pin structure, and the second spring is sleeved on the limiter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein an outer sleeve is sleeved on the clip-cartridge; the outer sleeve has a diameter larger than sizes of the first jaw base and the second jaw base if the clip jaw is closed, and the outer sleeve has the diameter smaller than sizes of the first jaw and the second jaw in an opening direction of the clip jaw if the clip jaw is opened; and if the clip jaw is closed, the first jaw and the second jaw are closed and partially provided in the outer sleeve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The clip-cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the clip pushing block is provided with a smooth arch structure on a top of the clip pushing block, and the clip pushing block is provided with a recess on both sides of the arch structure. ### Claim 10 A clip applicator, comprising a clip-cartridge assembly, a firing device, a driving device, and a control circuit, wherein the clip-cartridge assembly comprises: a clip-cartridge, a clip delivery device, and a clip jaw provided on a side of the clip-cartridge, wherein the clip-cartridge comprises an accommodation cavity for placing a ligation clip and the clip delivery device; the clip delivery device comprises an elastic member and a clip pushing block for pushing the ligation clip within the accommodation cavity to move; and if a distal end of the clip jaw is closed, the elastic member, by an elastic force of the elastic member, drives the clip pushing block to move in a movement direction toward the clip jaw from a proximal end of the clip jaw; wherein the elastic member is a first spring, and the first spring and the clip jaw are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the clip pushing block; the clip-cartridge assembly further comprises a brake member, the brake member comprises a limiter and a second spring, the second spring is connected to the limiter, the limiter is provided between the clip jaw and the clip-cartridge, the limiter is movable in the accommodation cavity in a direction that is perpendicular to a movement direction of the ligation clip in the accommodation cavity; meantime, if the distal end of the clip jaw is closed, an elastic force of the second spring drives at least a part of the limiter to exit from the accommodation cavity; and if the distal end of the clip jaw is opened, the proximal end of the clip jaw pushes the limiter to enter into the accommodation cavity to prevent a next ligation clip from entering into the clip jaw from the proximal end of the clip jaw; the firing device comprises a pushing rod, two ends of the pushing rod are connected to the driving device and the clip-cartridge, respectively, the pushing rod is provided on a side of the clip-cartridge away from the clip jaw; and the control circuit is connected to the driving device and configured to control the driving device to drive the pushing rod to reciprocate between the clip-cartridge and the driving device, so as to drive the clip-cartridge to move and then control opening or closing of the distal end of the clip jaw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The clip applicator according to claim 10, wherein the clip applicator further comprises a working head, the pushing rod and the driving device are provided in the working head, the working head and an outer sleeve are connected to each other by a connecting member, the connecting member comprises a connecting tube connected to the working head, a sliding groove is provided on the connecting tube, a protrusion is provided on a side of the outer sleeve sleeved on the clip-cartridge, which is close to the working head, and the protrusion is slid into the sliding groove and clamped with the sliding groove to connect the working head and the outer sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The clip applicator according to claim 11, wherein the sliding groove is L-shaped, and the protrusion is slid into the sliding groove longitudinally and then rotates to be clamped with the sliding groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The clip applicator according to claim 11, wherein the connecting member further comprises a latching element provided in the connecting tube, and the latching element limits the protrusion in the sliding groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The clip applicator according to claim 13, wherein the latching element comprises a sleeve provided in the connecting tube, a buckle is provided on the sleeve, a slot matching with the buckle is provided on the outer sleeve, and the pushing rod passes through the sleeve and is connected to the clip-cartridge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The clip applicator according to claim 14, wherein the connecting member further comprises an actuator for driving the sleeve to move toward the outer sleeve so that the buckle is inserted into the slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The clip applicator according to claim 15, wherein the actuator is an elastic member, the actuator is fixed in the connecting tube; and during the protrusion is clamped in the sliding groove, the actuator is compressed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The clip applicator according to claim 10, wherein the driving device comprises an input shaft, a driving gear provided on the input shaft, a nut engaging with the driving gear, and a threaded rod connected to the nut; the driving device further comprises a limiting block, the limiting block is respectively connected to the threaded rod and the pushing rod, and the pushing rod is rotatable relative to the limiting block.