# US 5,707,377 A · Ligation clip remover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,377 A - Document ID: US5707377A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/348,840 - Filed: 1994-11-29 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-11-29 - Assignees: American Cyanamid Company - Inventors: John W. Keller; Daniel Helme - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707377A ## CPC - A61B 17/076: for removing surgical staples {or wound clamps} - A61B 17/122: Clamps or clips, e.g. for the umbilical cord {(for the vas deferens A61F6/206)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A ligation clip remover removes closed ligation clips from a ligated vessel. The remover includes a handle assembly having a squeezable trigger and a slender barrel assembly connected to the handle assembly. A clip separating mechanism is connected to a distal end of the barrel assembly, and a shaft is slidably disposed in the barrel assembly for operating the clip separating mechanism when the trigger is squeezed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ligation clip remover, comprising: a handle assembly with a squeezable trigger; a barrel assembly rotatably connected to said handle assembly, with said barrel assembly including a stationary portion at its distal end for receiving a ligation clip; a shaft slidably housed in said barrel assembly and slidable by actuation of said trigger; and a clip separator engaged to a distal portion of said barrel assembly, said separator having a lever pivotably mounted in said barrel assembly, wherein said separator is actuated by said sliding shaft to move a distal end of said lever toward said stationary portion of said barrel assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A ligation clip remover according to claim 1, wherein said barrel assembly includes bayonet-type slot engaging means for rotatably engaging said barrel assembly to said handle assembly and permitting it to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A ligation clip remover according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft assembly, with said shaft being part of said shaft assembly and said shaft having an enlarged-diameter proximal end operably engaged with said trigger, wherein actuation of said trigger slides said shaft assembly in a forward direction to close said clip separator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A ligation clip remover according to claim 3, wherein said shaft assembly further includes a biasing spring mounted on said shaft for biasing said shaft assembly in a rearward direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A ligation clip remover according to claim 1, wherein said lever has a proximal cam surface for engagement by said sliding shaft and a downwardly-extending nose at its distal end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A ligation clip remover according to claim 5, wherein said clip separator includes a spring mounted in said barrel assembly for biasing said lever in an open position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A ligation clip remover according to claim 5, wherein said downwardly-extending nose is positioned opposite to said distal end of said barrel assembly, and said separator is actuated to move said nose to approach said barrel assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A ligation clip remover according to claim 1, wherein said stationary portion includes a slanted face and a flat slotted portion for receiving the ligation clip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A ligation clip remover according to claim 8, wherein said lever has a downwardly-extending nose at its distal end, and said separator is actuated to move said nose toward said flat slotted portion. ### Claim 10 A ligation clip remover for removing a closed two-piece ligation clip having first and second arms, comprising: a handle assembly having a squeezable trigger; a barrel assembly rotatably connected at its proximal end to said handle assembly with said barrel assembly including a stationary portion at its distal end for receiving a ligation clip; clip separating means, secured in a distal portion of said barrel, for separating the closed ligation clip, said clip separating means including a lever pivotably mounted in said barrel assembly; and actuating means, disposed within said barrel assembly, for actuating said clip separating means when said trigger is squeezed to move a distal end of said lever toward said stationary portion of said barrel assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A ligation clip remover according to claim 10, wherein said barrel assembly includes bayonet-type slot engaging means for rotatably engaging said barrel assembly to said handle assembly and permitting said barrel assembly to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A ligation clip remover according to claim 10, wherein said actuating means includes an extended shaft with an enlarged-diameter section at its proximal end, said enlarged diameter section operably engaged with said trigger such that said shaft slides in a forward direction in said barrel assembly when said trigger is squeezed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A ligation clip remover according to claim 12, wherein said actuation means further includes a biasing spring mounted on said shaft for biasing said actuating means in a rearward direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A ligation clip remover according to claim 10, wherein said lever has a proximal cam surface for engagement by said actuating means and a hooked nose for separating the first and second arms of the closed ligation clip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A ligation clip remover according to claim 14, wherein said hooked nose terminates in a pointed end, and said actuating means slides forward in said barrel assembly to pivot said lever and force said pointed end between the first and second arms of the closed ligation clip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A ligation clip remover according to claim 15, wherein said clip separating means further includes a spring mounted in said barrel assembly for biasing said lever in an open position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A ligation clip remover according to claim 14, wherein said downwardly-extending nose is positioned opposite to said distal end of said barrel assembly, and said separator is actuated to move said nose to approach said barrel assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A ligation clip remover according to claim 10, wherein said stationary portion includes a slanted face and a flat slotted portion for receiving the ligation clip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A ligation clip remover according to claim 18, wherein said lever has a downwardly-extending nose at its distal end and said separator is actuated to move said nose toward said flat slotted portion. ### Claim 20 A ligation clip remover, comprising: a handle having an actuator; extended barrel means connected to said handle, with said barrel means including a stationary portion at its distal end for receiving a ligation clip; clip separating means, secured in a distal portion of said barrel means, for separating a closed ligation clip, said clip separating means including a lever pivotably mounted in said barrel means; and actuating means slidably housed in said barrel means and operable by said actuator to actuate said clip separating means to move a distal end of said lever toward said stationary portion of said barrel means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A ligation clip remover according to claim 20, further comprising rotatable connecting means for rotatably connecting said barrel means to said handle and permitting said barrel means to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis with respect to said handle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A ligation clip remover according to claim 21, wherein said rotatable connecting means includes bayonet-type slots in a proximal end of said barrel means and a lock ring with internal pins for engaging said slots. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A ligation clip remover according to claim 20, wherein said actuating means includes a slender shaft with an enlarged-diameter section at its proximal end, with said enlarged diameter section operably engaged with said actuator such that said shaft slides in a forward direction in said barrel assembly when said actuator is actuated. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A ligation clip remover according to claim 23, wherein said actuation means further includes a biasing spring mounted on said shaft for biasing said actuating means in a rearward direction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A ligation clip remover according to claim 20, wherein said lever has a proximal cam surface for engagement by said actuating means and a hooked nose for separating two close members of a ligation clip. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A ligation clip remover according to claim 25, wherein said hooked nose terminates in a pointed end, and said actuating means slides forward in said barrel means to pivot said lever and force said pointed end between the two closed members. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A ligation clip remover according to claim 26, wherein said clip separating means further includes biasing means mounted on said barrel means for biasing said lever in an open position. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) A ligation clip remover according to claim 25, wherein said downwardly-extending nose is positioned opposite to said distal end of said barrel means, and said separator is actuated to move said nose to approach said barrel means. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) A ligation clip remover according to claim 20, wherein said stationary portion includes a slanted face and a flat slotted portion for receiving the ligation clip. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A ligation clip remover according to claim 29, wherein said lever has a downwardly-extending nose at its distal end and said separator is actuated to move said nose toward said flat slotted portion.