Apparatus and method for applying surgical clips in laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures

A disposable apparatus for endoscopic application of surgical clips to body tissue which comprises:

• a) a frame;
• b) an elongated endoscopic section connected at the proximal end thereof to said frame and extending distally from said frame, said endoscopic section including:
• i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips;
• ii) a pair of jaws positioned at the distal portion of said endoscopic section and adapted for reception of said clips;
• iii) means for individually advancing said clips distally for positioning within said pair of jaws to be positioned adjacent the body tissue to be clipped;
• and
• iv) means for at least partially closing said jaws about each said clip to close said clips at least partially about the body tissue;
• and v) gaseous sealing means.

A disposable apparatus for endoscopic application of surgical clips to body tissue which comprises:

• a) a frame configured and dimensioned for manual gripping;
• b) an elongated endoscopic section connected at the proximal end thereof to said frame and extending distally therefrom, said endoscopic section including:
• i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips in generally aligned relation facing the distal portion thereof;
• ii) jaw means positioned at the distal end thereof and adapted for sequential reception of said clips;
• iii) means for individually advancing said clips distally as to be positioned between said jaw means for positioning adjacent the body tissue to be clipped;
• iv) means for selectively at least partially closing said jaw means about each said clip after the clip is advanced therebetween while simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means for distal advancement of the next clip.

A disposable apparatus for endoscopic application of surgical clips to body tissue which comprises:

• a) a frame adapted to be gripped by hand;
• b) an elongated endoscopic section connected to said frame and capable of rotation to a plurality of selectable angular positions relative thereto, said endoscopic section including:
• i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips;
• ii) a pair of jaws at the distal end portion of said endoscopic section configured and dimensioned for sequential reception and clamping of said clips;
• iii) means for advancing said clips into said jaws;
• an
• iv) means for moving said jaws toward each other for closing a clip positioned therebetween;
• and
• v) gaseous seal means;
• c) said frame including:
• i) first transmission means connected to said clip advancing means for sequentially advancing clips into said jaws;
• ii) second transmission means connected to said jaw closing means for closing said jaws about a clip positioned therebetween;
• iii) handle means connected to said second transmission means and movable manually from a first position whereby said jaws are open to a second position whereby said jaws are closed;
• said handle means further being connected to said first transmission means and adapted to move said clip advancing means from a first position distal of said handle section to a second locked position proximal of the next clip to be advanced, while said second transmission means is actuated to close said clip closing means about a clip positioned within said jaws;
• iv) means to release said locked position of said clip advancing means;
• v) means to resiliently advance said clip advancing means to advance the next clip distally into the jaws of said clip closing means;
• vi) a pusher tube connected to said clip advancing means;
• vii) a channel tube connected to said clip closing means;
• viii) means to move said pusher tube and said channel tube between respective first and second positions;
• and
• ix) means to lock said pusher tube and said channel tube in one of said first and second positions.

A method for endoscopically applying surgical clips on an apparatus having a frame adapted to be gripped by hand and on endoscopic section connected to said frame and rotatable to selected positions relative to said frame, comprising:

• a) storing the clips in said endoscopic section, said endoscopic section including a gaseous seal means;
• b) advancing a clip distally by clip advancing means positioned within said endoscopic section to a pair of jaws positioned at the distal end of said endoscopic section;
• c) positioning the clip adjacent body tissue to be clipped;
• d) closing the jaws about the clip while simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means to a position proximal of the next clip to be advanced;
• and
• e) releasably locking said clip advancing means in said position until released to advance the next clip.