Patent ID: 6793663
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical applicator tip for delivering clips for joining tissue parts, said applicator tip comprising an applicator tip housing having a magazine chamber, a magazine for containing clips disposed in said magazine chamber, and an operating mechanism for successively removing clips from said magazine for installation in tissue parts, each of said clips including a shoulder portion and curved claws projecting from said shoulder portion at opposite ends thereof, and an elbow lever structure disposed on, and connected to, said shoulder portion at said opposite ends thereof so that the free ends of said claws move toward each other when said elbow lever structure is straightened, said clips being supported with their shoulder portions on a support bar one adjacent the other and being biased toward the front end of said applicator tip, said magazine having a front cover which is removable after insertion of said magazine into said magazine chamber for releasing said clips and a pivotably supported magazine lid with a projection extending spring-biased into a recess in said applicator tip when said magazine is disposed in said magazine chamber for retaining said magazine in said magazine chamber, said applicator tip further including a transport plunger for moving said clips and a closing plunger for engaging said elbow lever structure for closing said clips, both said plungers being operated from a handle of said surgical applicator by way of an operating wire, said transport plunger having engagement prongs for engaging a front clip and moving it toward the front end of said applicator tip while pivoting said clip about 90Â° so that the claws of said clip project forwardly from said applicator tip and said closing plunger is then movable into engagement with the side of said shoulder opposite said claws for engaging said elbow lever structure with a sufficient force to straighten said elbow lever structure thereby causing the claws to move toward each other for firmly retaining tissue portions engaged therebetween.