Surgical clip applier employing arcuate surgical clips
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsDemetrius Harris, Joshua Young, Sarah Worthington, Stephen D. Geresy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
End effectors with increased clip loading capacity include those configured to dispense arcuate surgical clips. Such end effectors may comprise: a housing; and first and second arcuate jaw members protruding distally from the housing. Each arcuate jaw member has a curved profile and is shaped to receive an arcuate surgical clip having a complementary curved profile therebetween. Surgical tools may comprise the end effectors operably coupled to the distal end of an elongate shaft.
Claims20
An end effector for a surgical clip applier, the end effector comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- first and second arcuate jaw members protruding distally from the housing, each arcuate jaw member having a curved profile and being shaped to receive an arcuate surgical clip having a complementary curved profile therebetween.
A surgical tool comprising:
- a drive housing;
- an elongate shaft extending from the drive housing;
- and
- an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- first and second arcuate jaw members protruding distally from the housing, each arcuate jaw member having a curved profile and being shaped to receive an arcuate surgical clip having a complementary curved profile therebetween.
A method comprising:
- positioning a surgical tool having an end effector adjacent to a surgical site, the end effector comprising:
- a housing;
- first and second arcuate jaw members protruding distally from the housing and having a channel defined therebetween;
- a surgical clip feeder positionable within the housing in communication with the channel and containing or configured to contain a plurality of arcuate surgical clips in a nested configuration;
- and
- a feedbar movable relative to the surgical clip feeder;
- engaging the feedbar on a distal-most arcuate surgical clip of the plurality of arcuate surgical clips, the distal-most arcuate surgical clip being arranged within the channel;
- advancing the distal-most arcuate surgical clip through the channel with the feedbar and into interposition between the first and second arcuate jaw members;
- and
- at least partially collapsing the first and second arcuate jaw members to crimp the distal-most arcuate surgical clip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.