Clip dispenser and method for dispensing and applying clips to tissue
OwnerDravid Kourainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clip dispensing system, clip dispenser, and method is described herein for dispensing and applying clips to tissue during minimally invasive surgery. The system may include a grasping surgical instrument having a shaft and a grasping tool, and a clip dispenser assembled to the shaft. The clip dispenser includes an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube and a plurality of clips housed between the inner tube and the outer tube. The clips include a first jaw, an opposing second jaw, and a cavity between the first jaw and the second jaw. The cavity permits the clip to slide along the length of the shaft and over the grasping tool of the grasping surgical instrument to be clamped onto a grasped piece of tissue with the aid of a second grasping instrument.
Claims12
A clip dispensing system, comprising:
- a grasping surgical instrument having a shaft and a grasping tool;
- and
- a clip dispenser assembled with the shaft proximal to the grasping tool, said clip dispenser comprising:
- an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube, and a plurality of clips housed between the inner tube and the outer tube;
- wherein the inner tube and outer tube are concentric with the shaft;
- and
- wherein each clip of the plurality of clips comprise a first jaw, an opposing second jaw, and a cavity between the first jaw and the second jaw, wherein the inner tube and shaft fits through the cavity and permits each clip to slide along a length of the inner tube and the shaft, and slide over the grasping tool to be clamped onto a grasped piece of tissue;
- and
- a second grasping instrument comprising a second grasping tool, wherein the second grasping tool is configured to releasably grasp a clip from the plurality of clips, and wherein the second grasping instrument is used to position the clip onto the grasped piece of tissue.
A method for dispensing and applying clips to tissue using a first grasping instrument and a second grasping instrument, wherein the first grasping instrument comprises a shaft, a grasping tool, and a clip dispenser assembled to the shaft, the method comprising:
- grasping a piece of tissue with the first grasping instrument;
- grabbing a clip from the clip dispenser with the second grasping instrument, wherein the clip dispenser comprises:
- an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube, and a plurality of clips housed between the inner tube and the outer tube;
- wherein the inner tube is concentric with the outer tube and configured to concentrically assemble with a shaft of a grasping surgical instrument;
- and
- wherein each clip of the plurality of clips comprise a first jaw, an opposing second jaw, and a cavity between the first jaw and the second jaw, wherein the cavity receives the inner tube therethrough and permits each clip to slide along a length of the inner tube in the clip dispenser;
- positioning the clip on the grasped piece of tissue, with the second grasping instrument, by pulling the clip down the shaft and over the grasping tool of the first grasping instrument;
- and
- clamping the clip on the grasped piece of tissue with the second grasping instrument.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.