Apparatus and method for applying latchless surgical clips

Abstract

A disposable apparatus is disclosed for applying latchless surgical clips to body tissue in endoscopic surgical procedures. The latchless clips are resiliently biased to a closed configuration. The apparatus includes a frame which is adapted to be gripped by hand, and an endoscopic section connected to the handle and capable of storing surgical clips in preparation for clipping arteries or other body tissue. The apparatus includes means for advancing each clip sequentially, temporarily opening the clip and advancing the clip further to a pair of distal jaws where the clip is positioned around the body tissue and closes around the tissue. Also included are means for closing the jaws about the clip. When the jaws are closed, the clip advancing means is simultaneously positioned to advance the next clip. The present apparatus also makes it possible to partially close a clip without interfering with the sequential movement of the clip advancing mechanism.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying surgical clips, especially hemostatic clips, to body tissue such as blood vessels. More particularly, this invention relates to a surgical clip applier which can be used in laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures for closing ducts, arteries and the like, and to a method for using same.2. Background of the ArtIn surgical operations it is often necessary to apply hemostatic clips to blood vessels, and apparatus for applying clips are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,650 and 4,624,254, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, which disclose asurgical clip applying apparatus having ring-like handles. The handles are squeezed to force jaws to move distally relative to the apparatus where they are forced together by a pair of inclined surfaces. A surgical clip between the jaws is thereby squeezed closed.While the instruments d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

An apparatus is disclosed for applying latchless surgical clips to body tissue. The latchless clips each possess a pair of legs movable between a closed position wherein the legs are in relatively close proximity to each other and an open position wherein the legs are relatively spaced apart from each other. The legs are resiliently biased to the closed position. The apparatus comprises frame means, and endoscopic means of generally elongated configuration connected to the frame means and extending distally therefrom. The endoscopic means includes: means for storing a plurality of latchless surgical clips, means for opening the clips, means for selectively advancing the clips to the distal portion of the endoscopic means for positioning adjacent the body tissue to be clipped where the clips are permitted to at least partially close; and means for facilitating substantially complete closure of each clip at least sufficient to grip the body tissue. The apparatus may be completely disposable and the endoscopic means may be replaceable so as to permit additional clips to be applied with a single apparatus during a single surgical procedure.

Problems solved by technology

While the instruments described in the above-referenced patents have provided beneficial features to surgeons in conventional surgical procedures, they are not useful in endoscopic or laparoscopic operations.

Moreover, laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures often require the surgeon to act on organs, tissues, and vessels far removed from the incision, thereby requiring that any instruments to be used in such procedures be both long and narrow.

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