Patent ID: 8267946
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, which comprises: a) a handle portion; b) a body extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the body supporting a clip carrying channel having a distal window defined therein; c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the clip carrying channel; d) a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body, the jaw assembly including first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position; e) a feed bar configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaw assembly while the jaw portions are in the spaced apart position, the feed bar defining a distal window; f) a clip pusher disposed proximal to the plurality of clips and configured to bias the plurality of clips in a distal manner; g) an actuator at least partially disposed within the body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of the handle portion; h) a rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth being connected to the actuator; i) a pawl having at least one tooth configured to engage the ratchet teeth, the pawl being biased in the handle portion, wherein as the actuator is moved longitudinally, the plurality of ratchet teeth are passed over the pawl, the pawl configured to prevent return of the actuator before full advancement of the actuator; j) a lock out bar connected to the clip pusher, the lock out bar being biased by a spring and lodged between a ceiling and a floor of the clip carrying channel; and wherein as the clip pusher moves distally each time a clip is released from the apparatus, the clip pusher moves the lock out bar distally, and wherein when the lock out bar is in substantial alignment with the distal window of the feed bar, the lock out bar is urged to a second position through the distal window of the feed bar by the spring to extend across the feed bar, the lock out bar in the second position preventing the actuator from moving proximally thereby maintaining the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth of the rack, the pawl and rack preventing the actuator from moving longitudinally.