CLIP APPLYING APPARATUS WITH ANGLED JAW
A clip applying apparatus is provided which includes a jaw mechanism having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is supported on or formed integrally with the distal end of a crimping member which is movably supported within a body portion of the apparatus. The stationary jaw defines a longitudinal axis which forms an angle θ of between about 15 degrees and about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees in relation to a longitudinal axis of the body portion. In another embodiment, the stationary jaw includes a clip receiving channel which is configured to at least partially receive a surgical clip. In one embodiment, the distal end of the stationary jaw includes a stop member which is positioned to engage the distal end of the stationary jaw includes a stop member which is positioned to engage the distal end of a leg of a surgical clip to prevent the surgical clip from being pushed from the stationary jaw during operation of the apparatus and the movable jaw includes a distally located crimping surface and a head portion defining a recessed channel configured to receive a portion of a surgical clip supported on the stationary jaw. In yet another embodiment, the crimping surface defines an acute angle β in relation to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and in one embodiment, angle β is substantially the same as angle θ
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/525,430 filed Oct. 28, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/547,902 filed Sep. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,900,253, which is a National Stage Application of PCT/US04/07401 filed Mar. 11, 2004, which claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/453,581 filed Mar. 11, 2003, and the disclosures of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND 1. Technical FieldThe present disclosure relates to clip applying apparatus and ligation clips. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to clip applying apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue during surgical procedures which provide enhanced visibility at the surgical site.
2. Background to Related ArtSurgical procedures frequently require ligation of blood vessels, severed tissues and/or other organs to control or stop bleeding. Clip applying apparatus for quickly applying a surgical clip about tissue are well known. Such clip applying apparatus include single clip applicators and multiple clip applicators. In single clip applicators, a new clip must be loaded into the apparatus after application of each clip. Multiple clip applicators include a series of clips which can be sequentially applied to tissue during the course of a surgical procedure.
Typically, clip applying apparatus include a handle mechanism, an elongated body portion, and a clip crimping assembly, e.g., a jaw or pair of jaws. Such clip applying apparatus are configured for endoscopic or open surgical procedures. One problem associated with known clip applying apparatus is obstructed visualization of the surgical site especially during endoscopic surgical procedures. More specifically, the jaw structure and/or the distal end of the body portion obstructs the surgeon's view of the surgical site. Accordingly, a continuing need exists for a clip applying apparatus which provides improved visibility of the surgical site during application of a surgical clip to tissue.
SUMMARYA clip applying apparatus is provided which includes a handle assembly, a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly and a jaw mechanism. The jaw mechanism includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is supported on or formed integrally with the distal end of a crimping member which is movably supported within the body portion. The stationary jaw defines a longitudinal axis which forms an angle θ of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees in relation to a longitudinal axis of the body portion. In one embodiment, angle θ is about 25 degrees. In another embodiment, the stationary jaw includes a clip receiving channel which is configured to at least partially receive a surgical clip. In one embodiment, the distal end of the stationary jaw includes a stop member which is positioned to engage the distal end of a leg of a surgical clip to prevent the surgical clip from being pushed from the stationary jaw during operation of the apparatus.
In another embodiment, the movable jaw includes a distally located crimping surface and a head portion defining a recessed channel configured to receive a portion of a surgical clip supported on the stationary jaw. In yet another embodiment, crimping surface defines an acute angle β in relation to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and in one embodiment, angle β is substantially equal to angle θ. Because of the angles of the stationary jaw and the crimping surface of the movable jaw, the distal ends of the legs of a surgical clip are approximated before approximation of the proximal ends of the legs. By approximating the legs of the surgical clip in this manner, tissue positioned between the legs of the surgical clip is retained between the legs of the clip during clip formation.
Various preferred embodiments of the presently disclosed clip applying apparatus are described herein with reference to the drawings.
Preferred embodiments of the presently disclosed clip applying apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.
Referring to
Central body portion 14 includes an outer housing 19 positioned about the internal components of central body portion 14 and a crimping member or pusher 20. Crimping member 20 includes a proximal end (not shown) operatively which is connected to handle assembly 12, in a known manner, such that actuation of pivotable trigger 12b effects substantially linear movement of crimping member 20 along a longitudinal axis of central body portion 14 from a retracted position (
Crimping member 20 is slidably positioned within central body portion 14. The distal end 22 of crimping member 20 includes a raised surface 22b which with a proximal portion of crimping member 20 defines a shoulder or stop 22c. Raised surface 22b is configured to be slidably received within an elongated slot 32 formed in a distal end of central body portion 14. Stop 22c engages a stepped surface (not shown) of central body portion 14 to limit proximal movement of crimping member 20. Head portion 26 has a width greater than the width of slot 32 to define a pair of abutment surfaces 34 which engage a distal face 36 of anvil body 38 when crimping member 20 is in a retracted position to further limit proximal movement of crimping member 20.
Anvil 24 includes anvil body 38 and an anvil jaw 40. The longitudinal axis of anvil jaw 40 defines an angle θ with respect the longitudinal axis “X” of central body portion 14 (
One embodiment of clip 50 is shown in
Operation of clip applying instrument 10 will now be described in detail with reference to
After a clip 50 has been loaded into anvil jaw 40, clip applying apparatus 10 can be manipulated to position jaw mechanism 16 adjacent a surgical site to position clip 50 about tissue 60 to be ligated. This may be accomplished by inserting central body portion 14 of apparatus 10 through an incision or a cannula or cannula assembly or via direct access to the surgical site.
Referring to
Referring to
The benefits of the presently disclosed clip applying apparatus 10 include improved visibility at the surgical site. This is due to the fact that one side of the anvil jaw 40 is angled outwardly from and unobstructed by the distal end of the clip applying apparatus 10. Further, by initiating clip closure at the tips 56a and 56b of the clip legs 52a and 52b, improved tissue confinement is achieved.
Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. For example, although clip applying apparatus 10 has been disclosed as a single clip applicator, it is envisioned that with modifications, it can be employed for applying a series or multiplicity of clips, such as from a cartridge mounted within the instrument as disclosed in the U.S. patents identified above and incorporated herein by reference. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of any appended claims.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A clip applying apparatus, comprising:
- a u-shaped clip having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the u-shaped clip including two spaced apart legs connected by a backspan at the proximal end portion of the clip, each leg extending distally from the backspan and terminating at a tip;
- a stationary jaw; and
- a movable jaw including an angled surface to contact the clip as the movable jaw moves between a proximal position to a distal position such that the tips of the two legs approximate first and the backspan of the clip is approximated after the tips of the two legs are approximated, wherein one of the legs of the clip extends radially outward beyond the jaws when the movable jaw is in the proximal position.
3. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tips of the legs are unapproximated when the movable jaw is disposed in the proximal position.
4. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angled surface is positioned to engage one of the legs of the clip.
5. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each leg includes a curved tip.
6. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stationary jaw includes a clip receiving channel configured to at least partially receive one of the legs, wherein when one leg is received in the clip receiving channel of the stationary jaw, a proximal end portion of the other leg is received in a recessed channel defined within a head portion of the movable jaw.
7. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the stationary jaw includes a stop member positioned to engage the tip of one of the legs and prevent the clip from being pushed from the stationary jaw.
8. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stop member is hook-shaped to facilitate grasping of tissue.
9. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable jaw is configured to slide linearly towards the stationary jaw to approximate the legs.
10. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly and a crimping member operably associated with the handle assembly, the movable jaw supported on the crimping member.
11. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the movable jaw is movable relative to the stationary jaw in response to actuation of the handle assembly.
12. A clip applying apparatus, comprising:
- a stationary jaw configured to support a u-shaped clip having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the u-shaped clip including two spaced apart legs connected by a backspan at the proximal end portion of the clip, each leg extending distally from the backspan and terminating at a tip; and
- a movable jaw including an angled surface positioned to contact the clip as the movable jaw moves between a proximal position to a distal position such that the tips of the two legs approximate first and the backspan of the clip is approximated after the tips of the two legs are approximated, wherein the stationary jaw is configured to enable one of the legs of the clip to extend radially outward beyond the jaws when the movable jaw is in the proximal position.
13. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the stationary jaw is configured to maintain the tips of the legs in an unapproximated position when the movable jaw is disposed in the proximal position.
14. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the angled surface is positioned to engage one of the legs of the clip.
15. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the stationary jaw includes a clip receiving channel configured to at least partially receive one of the legs such that when one leg is received in the clip receiving channel of the stationary jaw, a proximal end portion of the other leg is received in a recessed channel defined within a head portion of the movable jaw.
16. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a distal end portion of the stationary jaw includes a stop member positioned to engage the tip of one of the legs and prevent the clip from being pushed from the stationary jaw.
17. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the stop member is hook-shaped to facilitate grasping of tissue.
18. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the movable jaw is configured to slide linearly towards the stationary jaw to approximate the legs.
19. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a handle assembly and a crimping member operably associated with the handle assembly, the movable jaw supported on the crimping member.
20. The clip applying apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the movable jaw is movable relative to the stationary jaw in response to actuation of the handle assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2018
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2018
Inventors: Ernest Aranyi (Easton, CT), Kenneth H. Whitfield (North Haven, CT)
Application Number: 15/952,134