Reverse loading surgical clip applier
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Stokes, Chester Baxter, III, Tyler Brehm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, a clip cartridge coupled to the body and containing one or more surgical clips, and a head rotatably coupled to the distal end. First and second jaw members are mounted to the head such that rotation of the head correspondingly moves the first and second jaw members. The head is rotatable between a loading position, where the first and second jaw members are aligned to receive a distal-most surgical clip of the one or more surgical clips, and a clamping position, where the first and second jaw members are positioned to crimp a surgical clip interposing the first and second jaw members.
Claims20
An end effector for a surgical clip applier, comprising:
- a body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a clip cartridge coupled to the body and containing one or more surgical clips;
- a head rotatably coupled to the distal end;
- and
- first and second jaw members mounted to the head such that rotation of the head correspondingly moves the first and second jaw members,
- wherein the head is rotatable between a loading position, where the first and second jaw members are aligned to receive a distal-most surgical clip of the one or more surgical clips, and a clamping position, where the first and second jaw members are positioned to crimp a surgical clip interposing the first and second jaw members.
A method of operating an end effector of a surgical clip applier, comprising:
- positioning the end effector adjacent a patient for operation, the end effector including:
- a body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a clip cartridge coupled to the body and containing one or more surgical clips;
- a head rotatably coupled to the distal end;
- and
- first and second jaw members mounted to the head such that rotation of the head correspondingly moves the first and second jaw members;
- rotating the head to a loading position where the first and second jaw members are aligned to receive a distal-most surgical clip of the one or more surgical clips;
- advancing the distal-most surgical clip out of the clip cartridge and receiving the distal-most surgical clip between the first and second jaw members;
- rotating the head to a clamping position;
- and
- collapsing the first and second jaw members to crimp the distal-most surgical clip.
A surgical clip applier, comprising:
- a drive housing;
- an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing;
- and
- an end effector arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including:
- a body having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a clip cartridge coupled to the body and containing one or more surgical clips;
- a head rotatably coupled to the distal end;
- and
- first and second jaw members mounted to the head such that rotation of the head correspondingly moves the first and second jaw members,
- wherein the head is rotatable between a loading position, where the first and second jaw members are aligned to receive a distal-most surgical clip of the one or more surgical clips, and a clamping position, where the first and second jaw members are positioned to crimp a surgical clip interposing the first and second jaw members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.