Clip applier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11439406-B2
Application number	US-201816190417-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

Medical devices and instruments, particularly appliers that may be used to apply occlusion devices such as occlusion clips on anatomical structures, are disclosed. Some example clip appliers may include an activation lever configured to open and close an occlusion clip releasably mounted in an end effector. Some example clip appliers may include a deployment trigger configured to release the occlusion clip from the end effector. Some example clip appliers may include a shaft extending between a handle and the end effector that is rotatable and/or bendable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
a deployment trigger disposed on the handle, the deployment trigger being movable between a pre-deployment configuration and a deployment configuration by application of an external force to the deployment trigger;
a shaft mounted to and extending distally from the handle;
an end effector disposed distally on the shaft, the end effector comprising a first jaw configured to releasably receive an occlusion clip, the deployment trigger being operatively coupled to the first jaw by a deployment cable; and
an elastic member disposed within the handle, the elastic member including a first end and a second end, the second end being affixed to the handle;
wherein moving the deployment trigger from the pre-deployment configuration to the deployment configuration retracts the deployment cable proximally, releasing the occlusion clip from the first jaw;
wherein the deployment cable extends from the first end of the elastic member to the first jaw;
wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the pre-deployment configuration, the elastic member is held in an extended configuration;
wherein, when the deployment trigger is moved to the deployment configuration, the elastic member retracts the deployment cable proximally; and
wherein, retracting the deployment cable proximally releases the occlusion clip from the first jaw.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1 ,
further comprising
a stop member affixed to the deployment cable between the first end of the elastic member and the shaft; and
an anchoring plate disposed within the handle and arranged to selectively block proximal movement of the stop member;

wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the pre-deployment configuration, the elastic member is held in the extended configuration by the stop member abutting a distal surface of an anchoring plate.

3. The medical instrument of claim 2 ,
further comprising a deployment trigger slot disposed on the deployment trigger, the slot slidably receiving the stop member therein;
wherein the anchoring plate is fixedly mounted to the handle;
wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the pre-deployment configuration, the deployment trigger slot is at least partially aligned with the anchoring plate; and
wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the deployment configuration, the deployment trigger slot is aligned generally adjacent to the anchoring plate, thereby allowing the stop member to move proximally relative to the deployment trigger slot and the anchoring plate.

4. The medical instrument of claim 2 ,
further comprising a fixed slot disposed on the handle, the slot slidably receiving the stop member therein;
wherein the anchoring plate is movable relative to the fixed slot;
wherein the deployment trigger is operatively coupled to the anchoring plate;
wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the pre-deployment configuration, the fixed slot is aligned such that the stop member at least partially abuts the anchoring plate; and
wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the deployment configuration, the fixed slot is aligned with an opening through the anchoring plate, thereby allowing the stop member to move proximally relative to the fixed slot and at least partially through the opening through the anchoring plate.

5. The medical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a removable safety tab, the safety tab comprising a pin extending into the handle and arranged to prevent movement of the deployment trigger and a grip extending outwardly from the handle.

6. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the handle and the shaft each comprise a releasably engageable corresponding locking feature arranged to selectively inhibit rotation of the shaft relative to the handle.

7. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is plastically deformable up to an angle of at least about 45 degrees.

8. The medical instrument of claim 1 ,
further comprising an activation lever disposed on the handle, the activation lever being movable between a closed activation lever configuration and an open activation lever configuration by application of an external force to the activation lever;
wherein the first jaw of the end effector is movable between a closed jaw configuration and an open jaw configuration, the first jaw being operatively coupled to the activation lever such that moving the activation lever from the closed activation lever configuration to the open activation lever configuration moves the first jaw from the closed jaw configuration to the open jaw configuration.

9. The medical instrument of claim 3 ,
wherein the anchoring plate comprises an anchoring plate slot that is wider than the deployment cable and narrower than the stop member; and
wherein, when the deployment trigger is in the pre-deployment configuration, the deployment trigger slot is generally aligned with the anchoring plate slot.

Assignees

• Atricure Inc

Inventors

• Widenhouse Christopher
• Fago Frank
• Mchale Jonathan
• Biehle Edward
• Koett Heidi
• Schwab Erica

Classifications

• A61B2017/0023

  disposable · CPC title

• A61B17/128 Primary

  for applying or removing clamps or clips · CPC title

• A61B2017/00367

  Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like · CPC title

• A61B2017/2912

  transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title