Surgical clip applicator

#1. Technical Field

#A surgical clip applicator is provided which is adapted for use in laparoscopic surgery as well as open surgery, and more particularly to a clip applicator including a replaceable unit containing a supply of surgical clips.

#2. Description of Related Art

#The clip applicator and clip magazine are described in greater detail hereinafter relative to a non-limitative embodiment and the attached drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 shows a side view of a clip applicator.

#FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the distal region of the shaft tube of the clip applicator.

#Clip applicator 1 shown in FIG. 1, which contains clip magazine 12, has stationary handle 2, to which is movably mounted release lever 18. Release lever 18 cooperates with connecting rod 8 that extends along the longitudinal axis and into shaft tube 6 of clip applicator 1. Through actuation of release lever 18, i.e., pivotal movement of release lever 18 toward stationary handle 2, connecting rod 8 may be moved in the direction of distal end 16 of clip applicator 1. At the end of the operating process connecting rod 8 is returned to its starting position under the bias of restoring spring 5.

#Shaft tube 6 is mounted in rotary manner in casing 3 of handle 2 and can be rotated with the aid of gripping ring 7. Rotation of shaft tube 6 also rotates connecting rod which has a rotationally symmetrical design at its proximal end. In its distal region, shaft tube 6 is adapted to receive replaceable clip magazine 12 in recess 38. Clip magazine 12 is inserted so as to hook under a shoulder or like structure at distal end 17 of shaft tube 6 and is locked in shaft tube 6 at the proximal end of recess 38 with the aid of spring-operated pawl 19. Distal end 17 of shaft tube 6 also receives jaw member 14, which is mounted in a removable, but position-fixed, manner relative to shaft tube 6.

#Distal movement of connecting rod 8 acts on the one hand on replaceable clip magazine 12, so that single clip 10 can be removed therefrom and supplied to jaws 14, and on the other hand on said jaws 14 so that after positioning of a single clip 10 therewithin, jaws 14 can be closed and clip formation completed. A locking or ratchet mechanism (not shown) may be provided so that return of connecting rod 8 to its initial proximal position is possible only when the operating process is complete, i.e. when release lever 18 has been fully cycled.