Surgical clip applier with living hinge jaws
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Stokes, Gregory Scott, Disha Labhasetwar, John Brady
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical clip applier includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. The end effector includes jaws that comprise a one-piece body having opposed first and second jaw members. The first jaw member provides a first inner surface and the second jaw member provides a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface. The first and second inner surfaces remain parallel to each other as the first and second jaw members move from an open position to a closed position.
Claims20
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 jaws that comprise a one-piece body having opposed first and second jaw members,
- wherein the first jaw member provides a first inner surface and the second jaw member provides a second inner surface arranged opposite the first inner surface, and wherein the first and second inner surfaces remain parallel to each other as the first and second jaw members move from an open position to a closed position to crimp a surgical clip positioned between the first and second inner surfaces.
A method of operating a surgical clip applier, comprising:
- positioning the surgical clip applier adjacent a patient for operation, the surgical clip applier including:
- 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 and including jaws that comprise a one-piece body having opposed first and second jaw members;
- actuating the surgical clip applier to move the first and second jaw members from an open position to a closed position, wherein the first jaw member provides a first inner surface and the second jaw member provides a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface;
- maintaining the first and second inner surfaces parallel to each other as the first and second jaw members move to the closed position;
- and
- crimping a surgical clip disposed between the first and second jaw members.
An end effector for a surgical clip applier, comprising:
- jaws that comprise a one-piece body having opposed first and second jaw members;
- a first inner surface defined on the first jaw member;
- and
- a second inner surface defined on the second jaw member and opposite the first inner surface,
- wherein the first and second inner surfaces remain parallel to each other as the first and second jaw members move from an open position to a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.