Stackable ligature clips

Abstract

A ligating clip includes a first beam supporting a first alignment member and a second beam supporting a second alignment member. When the ligating clip and the second ligating clip are stacked in a multi-shot clip applier, the first and second alignment members receive distal end portions of the first and second beam portions of the second ligating clip to provide stability to the clip stack.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 882,768, filed on August 5, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to ligating clips for ligating tissue, and more particularly, to stackable ligating clips for use in multi-fire clip appliers. Background Art

[0004] Ligating clips are used to ligate tissue and to ligate body vessels during various surgical procedures. These clips typically include a first beam and a second beam pivotally coupled to each other via a hinge portion to facilitate movement of the clip between an open position and a clamped position. Typically, the clips are held within a magazine and individually removed from the magazine using a single-fire clip applier immediately prior to application to tissue. This process is time-consuming and increases the duration of the surgical procedure.

[0005] Some ligature clip appliers include a clip magazine that holds multiple ligature clips that can be fed sequentially to the jaws of the clip applier to allow the clip applier to apply multiple clips to tissue without having to remove the clip applier from the surgical site or reload new ligature clips into the clip applier. These clip appliers are called multi-shot clip appliers. Typically, the ligature clips in a multi-shot clip applier are stacked and aligned in a head-to-tail manner. The clip applier includes a biasing member positioned at the proximal end of the clip stack to push the entire stack toward the jaws of the clip applier in a distal direction. If the clips in the clip stack are not aligned, the clips will get stuck in the clip applier and the clip applier will be unusable. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a stackable ligating clip comprising a first beam, a second beam, and a hinge portion. The first beam has a first end, a second end, a first inner clamping surface extending between the first end and the second end of the first beam, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end of the first beam. The first beam supports a first alignment member that extends outward from the outer surface of the first beam and defines a first concave surface. The second beam has a first end, a second end, a second inner clamping surface extending between the first end and the second end of the second beam, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end of the second beam. The second beam supports a second alignment member that extends outward from the outer surface of the second beam and defines a second concave surface. The hinge portion couples the first end of the first beam and the first end of the second beam together to facilitate movement of the ligating clip from an open position to a closed position. The first alignment member is configured to receive a portion of the second end portion of one of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip when the stackable ligating clip is stacked with the second ligating clip in a stacked configuration, and the second alignment member is configured to receive a portion of the second end portion of the other of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip when the stackable ligating clip and the second ligating clip are in the stacked configuration, so as to maintain the stackable ligating clip and the second ligating clip in the stacked configuration.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a plurality of stacked ligating clips, comprising a first ligating clip and a second ligating clip. Each of the first and second ligating clips comprises a first beam, a second beam, and a hinge portion. The first beam has a first end, a second end, a first inner clamping surface extending between the first and second ends of the first beam, and an outer surface extending between the first and second ends of the first beam. The first beam further supports a first alignment member that extends outward from the outer surface of the first beam and defines a first concave surface. The second beam has a first end, a second end, a second inner clamping surface extending between the first and second ends of the second beam, and an outer surface extending between the first and second ends of the second beam. The second beam supports a second alignment member that extends outward from the outer surface of the second beam and defines a second concave surface. The hinge portion couples the first end of each of the first and second beams to facilitate movement of each of the first and second ligating clips from an open position to a closed position. In the stacked configuration, the first alignment member of the first ligating clip receives a portion of the second end portion of one of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip, and the second alignment member receives a portion of the second end portion of the other of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip, so as to maintain the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip in the stacked configuration.

[0008] In aspects of the present disclosure, the first end of the first beam includes a first locking element and the second end of the second beam includes a second locking element, and when the ligating clip is moved to the clamped position, the first locking element engages the second locking element to maintain the stackable ligating clip in the clamped position.

[0009] In aspects of the present disclosure, the first alignment member includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the first beam and defining the first concave surface, wherein the first concave surface faces proximally toward the hinge portion.

[0010] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the second alignment member comprises arms positioned on sides of the second beam, wherein each of the arms projects outwardly from an exterior side of the second beam, and the second concave surface is defined in each of the arms and proximally toward the hinge portion.

[0011] In certain aspects of the present disclosure, the second concave surface faces proximally toward the hinge portion.

[0012] In aspects of the present disclosure, the portion of the distal end of the second beam of the second ligating clip received by the first concave surface includes a portion of the second locking element.

[0013] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first beam supports a first boss and the second beam supports a second boss, wherein the first boss projects laterally outward from the first clamping surface and the second boss projects laterally outward from the second clamping surface.

[0014] In certain aspects of the present disclosure, the portion of the distal end of the first beam of the second ligating clip received by the first concave surface includes a portion of the second locking element.

[0015] In various aspects of the present disclosure, the portion of the distal end of the second beam of the second ligating clip received by the second concave surface includes a portion of the first boss.

[0016] Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Various aspects of the disclosed stackable ligating clip are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a plurality of stackable ligating clips according to aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the ligating clips are separated from each other;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a side perspective view of one end of a stackable ligating clip shown in FIG, wherein the ligating clips are in a stacked configuration;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 a side perspective view of another end of the stackable ligating clip shown in , wherein the ligating clips are in a stacked configuration; and

[0021] Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 A sectional view taken along section line 4-4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The disclosed stackable ligating clip will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which identical reference numerals represent identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. However, it should be understood that the various aspects of the present disclosure are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. To avoid obscuring the present disclosure with unnecessary detail, well-known functions or configurations are not described in detail herein. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to use the present disclosure in various ways with virtually any appropriate detailed structure. In addition, directional terms such as distal, proximal, and similar terms are used to aid understanding of the description and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0023] In this description, the term "proximal" is generally used to refer to the portion of the device that is closer to the clinician, and the term "distal" is generally used to refer to the portion of the device that is further away from the clinician. Additionally, the term "clinician" is generally used to refer to the medical staff, including doctors, nurses, and support staff.

[0024] The disclosed stackable ligating clip comprises a first beam and a second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam comprise an inner clamping surface, an outer surface, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and an alignment member. When the stackable ligating clip and an adjacent ligating clip are stacked in a multi-shot clip applier, the alignment member is positioned to engage the distal end portion of the adjacent ligating clip to provide stability to the ligating clip stack. Providing stability to the clip stack in the multi-shot clip applier allows force to be applied to the most proximal clip in the clip stack to sequentially deliver the clips to the jaws of the clip applier. Providing stability to the clip stack in the multi-shot clip applier also minimizes any possibility that the clips in the clip stack will become misaligned and become stuck in the clip applier.

[0025] The disclosed stackable surgical ligature clip is Figure 1-41 and 2. The ligating clip 10 is shown as a whole in FIG. Each of the ligating clips 10 includes a first beam 12, a second beam 14, and a hinge portion 16. The first beam 12 and the second beam 14 have first ends 12a, 14a, respectively, and second ends 12b, 14b, respectively. The first end 12a of the first beam 12 and the first end 14a of the second beam 14 are coupled together by the hinge portion 16. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the hinge portion 16 forms a living hinge and is integrally formed with the first beam 12 and the second beam 14, as is known in the art, to facilitate movement of the ligating clip 10 between an open position and a clamped position. However, it is contemplated that other hinge configurations may be used to couple the first beam 12 and the second beam 14 of the ligating clip 10 together. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first beam 12 and the second beam 14 of the ligating clip 10 are curved along their longitudinal axes, but other beam configurations are contemplated. In certain aspects of the present disclosure, hinge portion 16 defines a through-hole 16a that increases the flexibility of ligating clip 10 in the region of hinge portion 16 and facilitates movement of first beam 12 relative to second beam 14 between an open position and a clamped position. In certain aspects of the present disclosure, through-hole 16a is crescent-shaped. Through-hole 16a also allows for substantially complete closure of first beam 12 and second beam 14 in the region adjacent second end 12a of beam 12 and second end 14a of beam 14.

[0026] The first beam 12 defines a first inner clamping surface 22 extending between a first end 12a and a second end 12b of the first beam 12 and facing the second beam 14. The second beam 14 defines a second clamping surface 28 facing the first beam 12. When the ligating clip 10 is in the clamped position, the first clamping surface 22 is aligned with the second clamping surface 28 to clamp tissue (not shown) between the first clamping surface 22 and the second clamping surface 28. Each or both of the first clamping surface 22 and the second clamping surface 28 may include a retaining feature (not shown) to minimize tissue slippage between the first beam 12 and the second beam 14 when the ligating clip 10 is in the clamped position. The retaining feature may include various configurations of protrusions or recesses in or on the clamping surfaces 22 and / or 28.

[0027] The second end 12b of the first beam 12 and the second end 14b of the second beam 14 form a latch mechanism that includes a first locking element 30 on the first beam 12 and a second locking element 40 on the second beam 14. The first locking element 30 includes a hook-shaped portion 30a that extends downwardly and proximally from the tissue clamping surface 22. The second end 12b of the first beam 12 also includes a boss 32 that projects laterally outward from the first clamping surface 22 of the first beam 12. The boss 32 is positioned and configured to engage the jaws (not shown) of a clip applier (not shown) to retain the ligating clip 10 within the jaws of the clip applier.

[0028] The second locking element 40 defines a cam surface 48 that is configured to deflect the first locking element 30 outwardly over the second locking element 40 when the ligating clip 10 is moved from the open position to the clamped position, so as to move the first locking element 30 into locking engagement with the second locking element 40. Specifically, the cam surface 48 is configured to engage the outer surface 33 ( Figure 2 ), and as the ligating clip 10 moves toward the clamped position, the first locking element 30 is deflected outwardly in the distal direction over the second locking element 40. After the first locking element 30 crosses the cam surface 48 of the second locking element 40, the first locking element 30 elastically moves inwardly into engagement with the second locking element 40 to maintain the ligating clip 10 in the clamped position. In certain aspects of the present disclosure, the cam surface 48 is formed on the second end 14a of the second beam 14 and comprises a curved atraumatic surface.

[0029] The second end portion 14b of the second beam 14 also includes a boss 42 that projects laterally outward from the second clamping surface 28 of the second beam 14. The boss 42 is similar to the boss 32 and is positioned and configured to engage the jaws (not shown) of a clip applier (not shown) to retain the ligating clip 10 within the jaws of the clip applier.

[0030] The first beam 12 of each of the ligating clips 10 includes a first alignment member 50 that projects outwardly from an exterior surface 52 of the first beam 12. The first alignment member 50 has a concave surface 54 ( Figure 1 ). The concave surface 54 receives the distal end of the second beam 14 of the ligating clip 10, which is positioned adjacent to the ligating clip 10 when the ligating clip 10 is in a stacked configuration, such as in a staple cartridge (not shown) of a multi-clip applier. The distal end of the ligating clip 10 received within the concave surface 54 may include the cam surface 48 and / or the boss 42 of the second beam 14. It is contemplated that the concave surface 54 may include a scalloped or circular surface. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the first alignment member 50 may take a variety of different configurations that may receive portions of the second beam 14 to maintain alignment between adjacent ligating clips 10 when the ligating clips 10 are in a stacked configuration. The first alignment member 50 may also include a distal-facing surface 56 that is smoothly curved to minimize the possibility of snagging tissue.

[0031] Similarly, the second beam 14 of each of the ligating clips 10 includes a second alignment member 60 that projects outwardly from an exterior surface 62 of the second beam 14. In various aspects of the present disclosure, the second alignment member 60 can include an arm 64 positioned on each side of the second beam 14 and projecting outwardly from the exterior side of the second beam 14. The arm 64 defines a proximally facing concave surface 66 that is positioned to receive the boss 32 of the first beam 12 when the ligating clips 10 are in the stacked configuration. It is contemplated that the second alignment member 60 can take on a variety of different configurations that can receive the boss 32 of the first beam 12 to maintain alignment between adjacent stacked ligating clips 10.

[0032] Figure 2-4 The ligating clip 10 is shown in a stacked configuration, wherein the second end 12b of the beam 12 and the second end 14b of the beam 14 are positioned distally of the first ends 12a, 14a of the ligating clip 10 in a head-to-tail manner. In the stacked configuration, the ligating clip 10 is in an open position, wherein the distal end of the second beam 14 is received within the recess 54 formed in the first alignment member 50, and the boss 32 on the first beam 12 is received within the recess 66 in the second alignment member 60 of the second beam 14. In the stacked configuration, when a force "F" ( Figure 2 ) is applied to the proximal clip 10a of the stack of clips 10, the entire stack of clips 10 moves in unison in the direction of arrow "A". Accordingly, the first alignment member 50 engages the second alignment member 60, and the distal end of the second beam 14 engages the distal end of the first beam 12, thereby maintaining the clips 10 in a longitudinally aligned position with the ligating clips aligned head to tail to maintain the ligating clips in a longitudinally aligned position. Figure 2 ) is applied to the proximal end of the clip stack to minimize the possibility of clip stack collapse.

[0033] Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. It is contemplated that the elements and features shown or described in conjunction with one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure may be combined with elements and features of another aspect without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, those skilled in the art will understand other features and advantages of the present disclosure based on the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stackable ligation clip comprising: a first beam having a first end, a second end, a first interior clamping surface extending between the first end and the second end of the first beam, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the first beam, the first beam supporting a first alignment member extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the first beam and defining a first concave surface; a second beam having a first end, a second end, a second interior clamping surface extending between the first end and the second end of the second beam, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the second beam, the second beam supporting a second alignment member extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second beam and defining a second concave surface; as well as a hinge portion coupling the first end of the first beam and the first end of the second beam together to facilitate movement of the ligating clip from an open position to a closed position; wherein the first alignment member is configured to receive a portion of the second end portion of one of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip when the stackable ligating clip and the second ligating clip are stacked head-to-tail in a stacked configuration, and the second alignment member is configured to receive a portion of the second end portion of the other of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip when the stackable ligating clip and the second ligating clip are in the stacked configuration to maintain the stackable ligating clip and the second ligating clip in the stacked configuration; The second end of the first beam includes a first locking element, the second alignment member includes arms positioned on both sides of the second beam, each of the arms protruding outward from an outer side of the second beam to receive the first locking element of the first beam of the second ligating clip between the arms, and the second concave surface is defined in each of the arms and faces proximally toward the hinge portion.

2. The stackable ligating clip of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the second beam comprises a second locking element, and when the ligating clip is moved to the clamped position, the first locking element engages the second locking element to maintain the stackable ligating clip in the clamped position.

3. The stackable ligating clip of claim 1 , wherein the first alignment member comprises a protrusion extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the first beam and defining the first concave surface, the first concave surface facing proximally toward the hinge portion.

4. The stackable ligating clip of claim 1 , wherein the second concave surface faces proximally toward the hinge portion.

5. The stackable ligating clip of claim 2, wherein the portion of the second end of the second beam of the second ligating clip received by the first concave surface comprises a portion of the second locking element.

6. The stackable ligating clip of claim 2, wherein the first beam supports a first boss and the second beam supports a second boss, the first boss projecting laterally outward from the first interior clamping surface and the second boss projecting laterally outward from the second interior clamping surface.

7. The stackable ligating clip of claim 6, wherein the portion of the second end of the first beam of the second ligating clip received by the first concave surface comprises a portion of the second locking element.

8. The stackable ligating clip of claim 6, wherein the portion of the second end of the second beam of the second ligating clip received by the second concave surface comprises a portion of the first boss.

9. A plurality of stacked ligating clips comprising: a first ligating clip and a second ligating clip, each of the ligating clips comprising a first beam, a second beam, and a hinge portion, the first beam of each of the ligating clips having a first end, a second end, a first inner clamping surface extending between the first end and the second end of the first beam, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end of the first beam, the first beam supporting a first alignment member, the first alignment member extending outwardly from the outer surface of the first beam and defining a first concave surface; the second beam of each of the ligating clips having a first end, a second end, a second interior clamping surface extending between the first end and the second end of the second beam, and an exterior surface extending between the first end and the second end of the second beam, the second beam supporting a second alignment member extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the second beam and defining a second concave surface; the hinge portion of each of the ligating clips coupling the first end of the first beam and the first end of the second beam to facilitate movement of each of the ligating clips from an open position to a closed position; wherein when the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip are stacked in a stacked configuration, the first alignment member of the first ligating clip receives a portion of the second end portion of one of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip, and when the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip are in the stacked configuration, the second alignment member receives a portion of the second end portion of the other of the first beam and the second beam of the second ligating clip to maintain the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip in the stacked configuration; wherein the second end of the first beam of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip comprises a first locking element, the second alignment member of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip comprises arms positioned on both sides of the second beam, each of the arms protruding outward from an outer side of the second beam to receive the first locking element of the first beam of the other ligating clip between the arms, and the second concave surface is defined in each of the arms and proximally faces the hinge portion.

10. A plurality of stacked ligating clips according to claim 9, wherein the second end of the second beam of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip comprises a second locking element, and when the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip are moved to their clamped positions, the first locking element engages the second locking element to maintain the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip in their clamped positions.

11. The plurality of stacked ligating clips of claim 9, wherein the first alignment member of each of the first and second ligating clips comprises a protrusion extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the first beam and defining the first concave surface, the first concave surface facing proximally toward the hinge portion.

12. The plurality of stacked ligating clips according to claim 9, wherein the second concave surface of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip faces proximally toward the hinge portion.

13. The plurality of stacked ligating clips of claim 10, wherein the portion of the second end of the second beam of the second ligating clip received by the first concave surface comprises a portion of the second locking element.

14. A plurality of stacked ligating clips according to claim 10, wherein the first beam of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip supports a first boss and the second beam of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip supports a second boss, the first boss protruding laterally outward from the first inner clamping surface of each of the first ligating clip and the second boss protruding laterally outward from the second inner clamping surface of each of the first ligating clip and the second ligating clip.

15. The plurality of stacked ligating clips of claim 14, wherein the portion of the second end of the first beam of the second ligating clip received by the first concave surface comprises a portion of the second locking element.

16. The plurality of stacked ligating clips of claim 15, wherein the portion of the second end of the second beam of the second ligating clip received by the second concave surface comprises a portion of the first boss.

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