US 6,824,548 B2 · Flexible surgical clip applier

Abstract

A flexible clip applier includes a flat wire wound tubular coil, a pair of jaws at the end of the coil, end effector wires extending through the coil and coupled to the jaws, and a clip-advancing wire extending through the coil. A clip chamber is defined in the distal end of the coil. A clip pusher is provided at a distal end of the clip-advancing wire, and advances a clip into the jaws when the clip-advancing wire is moved distally. The jaws include channels in which a distalmost clip rides when the jaws are closed and the pusher is advanced, thereby causing the distalmost clip to be pushed over the tissue, and a distal anvil which operate to bend a portion of the clip to facilitate its retention on the clamped tissue. The device can push a clip with a force in excess of 1500 grams.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A flexible surgical device, comprising:

a) a flexible outer tubular member having proximal and distal ends;
b) a flexible advancing element extending through said tubular member and having proximal and distal ends;
c) a handle coupled to said flexible outer tubular member and to said flexible advancing element and adapted to move said advancing element distally relative to said tubular member, wherein said flexible advancing element, said tubular member, and said handle are adapted such that said handle can cause said advancing element to provide a distal pushing force of at least 500 grams at said distal end of said advancing element;
d) an end effector assembly at said distal end of said tubular member;
and
e) at least one control wire extending through said tubular member, said control wire having a proximal end coupled to said handle such that operation of said handle causes relative proximal and distal movement of said at least one control wire relative to said outer tubular member and a distal end coupled to said end effector assembly such that movement of said at least one control wire relative to said outer tubular member causes operation of said end effector.

3 more elements

A flexible surgical clip applier for applying clips over tissue, comprising:

a) a flexible outer tubular member having proximal and distal ends;
b) a flexible clip-advancing wire extending through said tubular member and having proximal and distal ends;
c) a clip pusher at said distal end of said clip-advancing wire;
d) a jaw mount coupled to said distal end of said tubular member;
e) a pair of jaws mounted on said jaw mount, at least one of said pair of jaws being rotatable on said jaw mount relative to the other of said pair of jaws, each of said pair of jaws having a tissue clamping surface, and at least one of said jaws having a clip guide;
f) at least one control wire having proximal and distal ends and extending through said tubular member, said distal end of each said at least one control wire being coupled to at least one of said pair of jaws;
g) a handle assembly coupled to said proximal ends of said tubular member, said clip-advancing wire, and said at least one control wire and adapted
(i) to move said clip-advancing wire relative to said tubular member to move the clip pusher relative to said distal end of said tubular member, and
(ii) to move said at least one control wire relative to said tubular member to effect clamping of said jaws about the tissue and release therefrom;
and
h) a clip chamber formed by at least one of said tubular member and said jaw mount adapted to store at least one surgical clip,
wherein when said handle is operated to cause said jaws to be clamped about the tissue and to cause said clip pusher to be forced distally relative to said distal end of said tubular member, sufficient force is provided by said clip pusher to move a clip over the clamped tissue.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexible surgical clip applier

Life of this patent

Flexible surgical clip applier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35