Enhanced visibility cartridge with improved retainer
OwnerDaniel Kennedyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A substantially translucent cartridge is provided for retaining surgical clips, such as those used in surgical ligating procedures. The cartridge includes a polymeric composition base and a separable polymeric composition clip retainer supported by the base wherein the polymeric composition of the base and retainer includes a particulate, light diffusing material for imparting a substantially translucent optical effect for rendering, surgical clips visible within the cartridge. The polymeric composition may further include a radiopaque additive for rendering the cartridge imageable during radiographing.
Claims28
A substantially translucent cartridge for retaining a plurality of surgical clips, each clip having a pair of legs extending from a hinge point to form a substantially symmetrical shape and adapted to be removed from the cartridge by a clip applier, the substantially translucent cartridge comprising:
- (a) a polymeric composition base having a base longitudinal axis and comprising:
- (i) a plurality of axially spaced-apart walls extending along the base and transversely disposed in relation to the base axis, the walls defining a plurality of axially spaced-apart clip compartments therebetween wherein each compartment comprises laterally opposing first and second openings;
- and
- (ii) a plurality of clip hinge support members, each clip hinge support member disposed within a respective compartment and adapted to prevent downward motion of a surgical clip by supporting the clip adjacent its hinge point;
- (b) a polymeric composition clip retainer supported by the base and comprising a plurality of opposing pairs of first and second resilient tabs, wherein each tab extends from a proximal end secured to the clip retainer to a free distal end which extends into a corresponding compartment through a corresponding lateral opening, and further wherein each tab terminates at the distal end with a groove having diverging sides extending outwardly therefrom;
- and
- (c) wherein the polymeric composition of the base and retainer comprises a particulate, light diffusing material for imparting a substantially translucent optical effect for rendering surgical clips visible within the cartridge.
A cartridge for retaining a plurality of surgical clips, each clip having a pair of legs extending from a hinge point to form a substantially symmetrical shape and adapted to be removed from the cartridge by a clip applier, the cartridge comprising:
- (a) a polymeric composition base having a base longitudinal axis and comprising:
- (i) a plurality of axially spaced-apart walls extending along the base and transversely disposed in relation to the base axis, the walls defining a plurality of axially spaced-apart clip compartments therebetween wherein each compartment comprises laterally opposing first and second openings;
- and
- (ii) a plurality of clip hinge support members, each clip hinge support member disposed within a respective compartment and adapted to prevent downward motion of a surgical clip by supporting the clip adjacent its hinge point;
- and
- (b) a separable polymeric composition clip retainer supported by the base and comprising a plurality of opposing pairs of first and second resilient tabs, wherein each tab extends from a proximal end secured to the clip retainer to a free distal end which extends into a corresponding compartment through a corresponding lateral opening, and further wherein each tab terminates at the distal end with a groove having diverging sides extending outwardly therefrom and further comprising a slot positioned between the diverging sides and extending inwardly toward the tab proximal end.
A method for loading a selected surgical clip into a surgical clip applier, wherein the clip comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a hinge point joining the first and second legs, and wherein the clip applier comprises a pair of opposing first and second jaws adapted to engage the first and second legs of the clip, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a substantially translucent clip cartridge comprising:
- (i) a polymeric composition base including a plurality of compartments and a plurality of clip hinge support members, each clip hinge support member disposed in a corresponding compartment and adapted to prevent downward motion of a clip by supporting the clip adjacent its hinge point;
- (ii) a polymeric composition clip retainer supported by the base and comprising a plurality of opposing pairs of first and second resilient tabs, wherein each tab extends from a proximal end secured to the clip retainer to a distal end which extends into a corresponding compartment, and further wherein each tab terminates at the distal end with a groove having diverging sides extending outwardly therefrom;
- (iii) wherein the polymeric composition of the base and retainer comprises a particulate, light diffusing material for imparting a substantially translucent optical effect for rendering surgical clips visible within the cartridge;
- (b) viewing the clip cartridge to ascertain the location of the clips in the clip cartridge;
- (c) inserting a clip applier into a selected one of the plurality of compartments to engage a selected clip;
- and
- (d) removing the selected clip from the cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.