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US 5,984,934 AGranted
Low-profile surgical clip
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorsMark P. Ashby, Gary M. Johnson, Luis Urquidi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical clip includes a first jaw and a second jaw relatively movable in a first direction between a first relatively proximate position and a second relatively spaced position. The jaws in the second position have a predetermined dimension in the first direction. The clip has an overall maximum dimension in the first direction which is not greater than about the predetermined dimension of the jaws in the second position. A spring under tension is housed in a telescoping barrel and coupled between the first and second jaws for biasing the jaws to the first position.
Claims21
A surgical clip, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw coupled to the first jaw;
- the first jaw and second jaw being relatively movable in a first direction between a first relatively proximate position and a second relatively spaced position;
- the first jaw and second jaw in the second position having a predetermined dimension in the first direction;
- the clip having a maximum dimension in the first direction which is not greater than about the predetermined dimension of the first jaw and the second jaw in the second position;
- a first tab coupled to the first jaw and movable with the first jaw between the first position and the second position;
- a second tab coupled to the second jaw and movable with the second jaw between the first position and the second position;
- the first tab and second tab being movable relative to each other between a third proximate position and a fourth spaced position;
- the first jaw and the second jaw in the second position having a first outside dimension;
- the first tab and the second tab in the fourth spaced position having a second outside dimension not greater than about the first outside dimension of the first jaw and second jaw in the second position;
- a barrel extending along an axis generally transverse to the first jaw and the second jaw;
- the barrel having a maximum dimension along the axis which is not greater than about the first outside dimension of the first jaw and the second jaw in the second position;
- and
- a spring under tension disposed in the barrel and having properties for biasing the jaws to the first position.
11 more elements
A surgical clip, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw coupled to the first jaw;
- the first jaw and second jaw being relatively movable in a first direction between a first relatively proximate position and a second relatively spaced position;
- the first jaw and second jaw in the second position having a predetermined dimension in the first direction;
- the clip having a maximum dimension in the first direction which is not greater than about the predetermined dimension of the first jaw and the second jaw in the second position;
- a first tab coupled to the first jaw and movable with the first jaw between the first position and the second position;
- a second tab coupled to the second jaw and movable with the second jaw between the first position and the second position;
- the first tab and second tab being movable relative to each other between a third proximate position and a fourth spaced position;
- the first jaw and the second jaw in the second position having a first outside dimension;
- the first tab and the second tab in the fourth spaced position having a second outside dimension not greater than about the first outside dimension of the first jaw and second jaw in the second position;
- and
- the first tab and the second tab being spaced from the axis of the barrel.
9 more elements
A surgical clip, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between a first proximate position and a second spaced position;
- a spring coupled to the first jaw and the second jaw;
- and
- the spring having first tension characteristics when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the first proximate position, and second tension characteristics greater than the first tension characteristics when the first jaw and the second jaw are in the second space position.
2 more elements
A surgical clip, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between a first proximate position and a second spaced position;
- a spring under tension coupled to the first jaw and the second jaw, the spring having properties for biasing the first jaw and the second jaw to the first position;
- a first tab having a fixed relationship with the first jaw;
- a second tab having a fixed relationship with the second jaw;
- the first tab being movable relative to the second tab to oppose the bias of the spring and move the first jaw and the second jaw to the second position;
- the first jaw being disposed in a first direction relative to the second jaw;
- and
- the first tab being disposed in the first direction relative to the second tab.
6 more elements
A surgical clip, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between a first proximate position and a second spaced position;
- a spring under tension coupled to the first jaw and the second jaw and biasing the first jaw and the second jaw to the first proximate position;
- a first tab having a fixed relationship with the first jaw;
- a second tab having a fixed relationship with the second jaw;
- the first tab and the second tab being movable relative to each other between a third proximate position and a fourth spaced position;
- the first jaw being disposed in a first direction relative to the second jaw;
- and
- the first tab being disposed in a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the second tab.
6 more elements
A method for assembling a surgical clip, comprising the steps:
- providing a first clip portion having a first jaw, a first barrel portion with a first axis, and an axial rail;
- providing a second clip portion having a second jaw, a second barrel portion with a second axis, and an axial slot;
- aligning the first axis of the first barrel portion with the second axis of the second barrel portion;
- moving the first barrel portion generally axially of the second barrel portion to form a barrel of the clip;
- during the first moving step, maintaining the first jaw and the second jaw in a generally angularly spaced relationship;
- moving the first barrel portion relative to the second barrel portion from a first position wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are angularly spaced to a second position wherein the first jaw and second jaw are generally angularly aligned;
- and
- during the second moving step rotating the first barrel portion with respect to the second barrel portion.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.