Right angle clip applier apparatus and method

A clip applier comprising:

• a handle assembly actuating an advancing mechanism;
• a clip applying mechanism rotatable about a longitudinal axis connected with the handle assembly including:
• a cartridge having a plurality of elements for retaining a plurality of clips;
• a translatable feed rod slidingly engaged with the cartridge, the feed rod including a plurality of elements positioned thereon for distally advancing the plurality of clips;
• a distal portion fixed relative to the translation of the feed rod;
• an anvil channel including an anvil, the anvil positioned to receive a first clip, and configured to engage a hammer in direct contact with the feed rod for applying the first clip at an angle of application transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• a drive force provided by the handle assembly to advance the plurality of clips and apply the first clip, wherein a clip is rotated relative to the distal portion in a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis prior to firing;
• a stop structure fixed relative to translation of the feed rod;
• and
• an empty clip indicator including at least one proximally extending leg aligned with the longitudinal axis, the empty clip indicator being located proximal to a most proximal clip in the plurality of clips such that distal translation of the feed rod causes corresponding translation of the empty clip indicator, the empty clip indicator being configured and dimensioned for engagement with the stop structure to prevent continued distal advancement of the feed rod to thereby disable the clip applying mechanism, wherein alignment of the at least one leg with the longitudinal axis is maintained upon engagement of the empty clip indicator with the stop structure.

A clip applier comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• a clip applying mechanism defining a central longitudinal axis having a plurality of clips positioned therein in a first position;
• a feed rod of the clip applying mechanism being movable along a central longitudinal axis for repositioning the plurality of clips and applying a first clip in a second position at an angle approximately 90 degrees from the first position;
• a distal portion fixed relative to the movement of the feed rod;
• an anvil positioned to receive a first clip, the anvil configured to engage a hammer in direct contact with the feed rod;
• and
• a drive force provided by the handle assembly to advance the clip applying mechanism and apply the first clip wherein a clip is rotated relative to the distal portion in a plane that is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis prior to firing;
• a stop structure positioned distally of the handle assembly;
• and
• an empty clip indicator including a body extending along a first axis substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and a protrusion extending a second axis transverse to the first axis, the protrusion being configured for engagement with the stop structure, the empty clip indicator being located proximal to a most proximal clip in the plurality of clips, wherein distal movement of the feed rod advances the empty clip indicator in a distal direction such that the protrusion abuts the stop structure thereby preventing continued distal advancement of the feed rod and disable the clip applying mechanism.

A method for applying surgical clips comprising:

• providing a surgical applier having a cartridge extending along a central longitudinal axis, a distal portion fixed relative to the central longitudinal axis, a stop structure positioned adjacent the distal portion of the surgical applier, and an empty clip indicator having a body with a protrusion extending therefrom, the empty clip indicator being located proximal to most proximal clip in the plurality of clips;
• feeding clips along the central longitudinal axis via a feed rod with the clips in a first position;
• and
• repositioning a first clip to a second position transverse to the central longitudinal axis and applying the first clip in the second position by translating a hammer along the central longitudinal axis to apply the first clip on the tissue portion, wherein the first clip is rotated relative to the distal portion in a plane that is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis prior to firing, wherein the hammer is in direct contact with the feed rod;
• and
• advancing the empty clip indicator along the central longitudinal axis in a distal direction such that the protrusion engages the stop structure, thereby preventing continued distal advancement of the empty clip indicator and disabling the clip applying mechanism, wherein engagement of the body of the empty clip indicator with the cartridge substantially inhibits rotation of the empty clip indicator such that the empty clip indicator remains substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis.

A clip applier comprising:

• a clip applying mechanism including a cartridge and a feed rod translatable through the cartridge along a central longitudinal axis and a distal portion fixed relative to the translation of the feed rod, the feed rod being actuated by a drive force for distally advancing a plurality of clips positioned therewith, wherein a clip is rotated relative to the distal portion in a plane that is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis prior to firing;
• an anvil cooperatively engageable with a hammer in direct contact with the feed rod for applying a first clip at an angle of application transverse to the central longitudinal axis;
• and
• a stop structure fixed relative to longitudinal movement of a clip of the plurality of clips;
• an empty clip indicator positioned within the cartridge proximally of a most proximal clip in the plurality of clips, the empty clip indicator being configured and dimensioned to engage the stop structure and including a body portion, wherein distal translation of the feed rod advances the empty clip indicator in a distal direction into engagement with the stop structure to prevent continued distal advancement of the feed rod and disable the clip applying mechanism, wherein the body portion of the empty clip indicator is configured and dimensioned for engagement with the cartridge to maintain substantial alignment of the empty clip indicator with the central longitudinal axis.