# US 2016/0249933 A1 · Articulating endoscopic surgical clip applier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0249933 A1 - Document ID: US20160249933A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/151,535 - Filed: 2016-05-11 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-25 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Kenneth H. Whitfield; Csaba L. Rethy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160249933A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 17/083: {Clips, e.g. resilient} - A61B 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)} - A61B 17/1222: {Packages or dispensers therefor (clip magazines incorporated in a clip-applying instrument A61B17/128; for surgical articles A61B50/30)} - A61B 2017/003: {Steerable} - A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits} - A61B 2017/00314: {Separate linked members} - A61B 2017/00318: {Steering mechanisms} - A61B 2017/00323: {Cables or rods} - A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means} - A61B 2017/2908: {Multiple segments connected by articulations} - A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a handle assembly and a shaft assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive assembly; and a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly. The shaft assembly extends from the handle assembly and includes an articulating neck assembly; and an end effector assembly supported on a distal end of the articulating neck assembly and being configured to form a surgical clip in place on the body tissue. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-18. (canceled) ### Claim 19 An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a drive block slidably supported in the housing; a drive screw rotatably supported in the housing, the drive screw configured for threadably mating with the drive block; and a ratchet mechanism supported in the housing, the ratchet mechanism including: a pawl pivotably supported on the drive block; a toothed-rack having a first recess, a second recess, and at least one tooth interposed therebetween, the at least one tooth configured to selectively engage the pawl; and a biasing member supported on the drive block and configured to bias the pawl into operative engagement with the at least one tooth of the toothed-rack to restrict longitudinal translation of the drive block in a second direction when the pawl is longitudinally translated in a first direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions, wherein as the drive block is longitudinally translated in the first direction, the pawl is longitudinally translated in the first direction from the first recess to engage the at least one tooth of the toothed-rack such that the drive block is restricted from longitudinally translating in the second, opposite direction until the pawl longitudinally translates to the second recess. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus according to claim 19, further including a trigger pivotably connected to the drive block such that actuation of the trigger acts on the drive block to move the drive block relative to the toothed-rack. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus according to claim 20, further including a shaft assembly extending from the housing, the shaft assembly including: an end effector assembly having: a plurality of clips loaded therein; and jaws supported at a distal end thereof, wherein the jaws are configured to serially receive and form a single clip at a time, of the plurality of clips. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the end effector assembly includes: a pusher bar configured to load the single clip of the plurality of clips into the jaws; and a drive bar configured to selectively engage the pusher bar to effectuate closure of the jaws. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a rotatable drive member operatively connected to the trigger and to the end effector assembly, wherein actuation of the trigger results in rotation of the rotatable drive member, and rotation of the rotatable drive member results in loading of the single clip of the plurality of clips into the jaws and in a closing of the jaws. ### Claim 24 An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a drive assembly supported in the housing, the drive assembly including: a drive screw rotatably supported in the housing, the drive screw supporting a crown of teeth; a clutch gear rotatably supported in the housing, the clutch gear defining a crown of gear teeth configured to cooperate and selectively engage the crown of teeth of the drive screw; a clutch bracket pivotably supported in the housing, the clutch bracket configured to approximate and separate the crown of gear teeth of the clutch gear with the crown of teeth of the drive screw; a drive shaft having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the drive shaft extending through the clutch gear and being rotatably supported in the drive screw; and a trigger operatively connected to the drive assembly and selectively engageable with the clutch bracket to space apart the crown of gear teeth of the clutch gear with the crown of teeth of the drive screw. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising: an articulation assembly supported in the housing, the articulation assembly including: an articulation screw threadably coupled to the second portion of the drive shaft; and an articulation dial rotatably supported in the housing and coupled to the articulation screw; and a shaft assembly extending from the housing, the shaft assembly including an articulating neck assembly operatively coupled to the articulation dial such that actuation of the articulation dial results in omnidirectional articulation of the articulating neck assembly, wherein when the trigger is in a first position, the trigger engages the clutch bracket to space apart the crown of gear teeth of the clutch gear and the crown of teeth of the drive screw such that actuation of the articulation assembly does not actuate the drive assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the housing includes a pair of articulation actuators translatably supported therein and the articulation screw defines a pair of oppositely oriented grooves formed in a surface thereof, wherein each articulation actuator is engaged with a respective groove of the articulation screw, wherein a proximal end of an articulation cable is secured to a respective articulation actuator such that rotation of the articulation dial results in rotation of the articulation screw, and opposed translation of the articulation actuators, to omnidirectionally articulate the articulating neck. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the shaft assembly includes an end effector assembly supported on a distal end of the articulation assembly, the end effector assembly configured to form a surgical clip. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein when the trigger is in a second position, the trigger disengages from the clutch bracket such that the crown of gear teeth of the clutch gear engages the crown of teeth of the drive screw of the drive assembly. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein when the crown of gear teeth of the clutch gear engages the crown of teeth of the drive screw of the drive assembly, rotation of the drive screw of the drive assembly results in rotation of the drive shaft, such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates a drive screw of the end effector assembly to form the surgical clip. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatable about a longitudinal axis with respect to the housing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the articulating neck assembly includes a plurality of inter-connected articulation joints.