# Patent

## Title
Self-centering clip and jaw

## Abstract

An apparatus for applying surgical clips to tissue includes a handle assembly having a trigger and a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft includes at least one surgical clip therein. Each clip includes a pair of legs connected by a crossbar. Each of the pair of legs has an inwardly and an outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface having a raised profile protruding therefrom and extending longitudinally therealong. A jaw assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft and includes first and second opposed jaws moveable between a spaced apart and an approximated position. Each jaw defines a recess extending longitudinally along opposing inner surfaces thereof. Each recess defines a longitudinally extending groove having a profile substantially complementary to the raised profile of the legs of the clips. The legs of each clip are positionable at least partially within respective grooves of the recesses of the jaws.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application claims priority to, and benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/409,131 entitled “Self-Centering Clip and Jaw” filed on Nov. 2, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.


BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an endoscopic surgical clip applier and corresponding surgical clips.
2. Description of Related Art
Endoscopic staplers and clip appliers are known in the art and are used for a number of distinct and useful surgical procedures. In the case of a laparoscopic surgical procedure, access to the interior of an abdomen is achieved through narrow tubes or cannulas inserted through a small entrance incision in the skin. Minimally invasive procedures performed elsewhere in the body are often generally referred to as endoscopic procedures. Typically, a tube or cannula device is extended into the patient's body through the entrance incision to provide an access port. The port allows the surgeon to insert a number of different surgical instruments therethrough using a trocar and for performing surgical procedures far removed from the incision.
During a majority of these procedures, the surgeon must often terminate the flow of blood or another fluid through one or more vessels. The surgeon will often apply a surgical clip to a blood vessel or another duct to prevent the flow of body fluids therethrough during the procedure. An endoscopic clip applier is known in the art for applying a single clip or a series of clips during a surgical procedure. Such clips are typically fabricated from a biocompatible material and are usually compressed over a vessel. Once applied to the vessel, the compressed clip terminates the flow of fluid therethrough.
Endoscopic clip appliers that are able to apply multiple clips in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures during a single entry into the body cavity are described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,084,057 and 5,100,420 to Green et al., which are both incorporated by reference in their entirety. Another multiple endoscopic clip applier is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,436 by Pratt et al., the contents of which is also hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. These devices are typically, though not necessarily, used during a single surgical procedure. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/515,341 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,502 to Pier et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a resterilizable surgical clip applier. The clip applier advances and forms multiple clips during a single insertion into the body cavity. This resterilizable clip applier is configured to receive and cooperate with an interchangeable clip magazine so as to advance and form multiple clips during a single entry into a body cavity.
One significant design goal in the manufacture of clip appliers is to align the surgical clips between the jaws and maintain the alignment of the legs of the clip throughout a formation of the clip onto the body tissue or vessel. It is therefore desirable to provide a surgical clip and surgical clip applier that promote proper alignment of the legs of the clip within the jaws thereof and throughout the formation of the clip onto the body tissue or vessel.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the present disclosure, an apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided. The apparatus includes a handle assembly having a handle and a trigger moveable with respect to the handle. An elongated shaft extends distally from the handle assembly and includes one or more surgical clips disposed therein. Each surgical clip includes a pair of legs connected to each other at one end by a crossbar. Each of the pair of legs has an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface. The outwardly facing surface of each leg has a raised profile protruding therefrom and extending longitudinally therealong. A jaw assembly is disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft and includes first and second opposed jaws moveable between a spaced apart position and an approximated position. Each of the jaws defines a recess extending longitudinally along opposing inner surfaces thereof. Each of the recesses defines a longitudinally extending groove having a profile substantially complementary to the raised profile of the legs of the one or more surgical clips. The legs of each of the surgical clips are positionable at least partially within respective grooves of the recesses of the jaws.
In one embodiment, the outwardly facing surfaces of the legs of each surgical clip have a substantially triangular transverse cross-sectional profile. The groove defined in each recess of the jaws may also have a substantially triangular transverse cross-sectional profile.
In yet another embodiment, each leg of each surgical clip has a chevron transverse cross-sectional profile. The cross bar of each surgical clip may also have a chevron shaped transverse cross-sectional profile.
In still another embodiment, each groove of each jaw is defined by a first wall and a second wall angled toward each other and defining an angle therebetween. Similarly, the outwardly facing surface of each leg of each surgical clip may be defined by a first wall and a second wall angled toward each other and defining an angle therebetween. Further, the angle defined by the first wall and the second wall of the outer surface of each leg of each surgical clip may be smaller than the angle defined by the first wall and the second wall of the groove of the jaws.
In still yet another embodiment, a shoulder is defined at an interface between the recess and the groove of each jaw at opposed sides of the groove.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a jaw assembly for use in a surgical clip applier configured to apply surgical clips to body tissue is provided. Each of the surgical clips includes a pair of opposed legs, each having an outwardly projecting longitudinally extending raised profile. The jaw assembly includes first and second opposed jaws moveable between a spaced apart position and an approximated position. Each of the jaws defines a recess extending longitudinally along opposing inner surfaces thereof. Each of the recesses defines a longitudinally extending groove and each of the jaws is configured for positioning of a leg of a surgical clip at least partially within the recess of the jaw and for receiving the raised portion of each leg of the surgical clip in a groove of a respective jaw.
In one embodiment, the jaw assembly includes a shoulder defined at an interface between the recess and the groove of each jaw at opposed sides of the groove. Further, the groove defined in the recess of each jaw may have a substantially triangular transverse cross-sectional profile or a chevron transverse cross-sectional profile.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, each surgical clip includes a pair of legs connected to each other at one end by a crossbar. Each leg includes an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface. The outwardly facing surface of each leg includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions formed thereon, each protrusion defining a raised profile protruding from the outwardly facing surface of the leg thereof. This surgical clip may be used in conjunction with any of the jaw assemblies described above.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments of the subject instrument are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical clip applier;
FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the surgical clip applier of FIG. 1, illustrating a rotation of an elongate tubular member thereof;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the jaw structure of the surgical clip applier of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a front, perspective view of a jaw assembly for use in the surgical clip applier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a distal end view of one of the jaws of the jaw assembly of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a front, perspective view of the jaw of FIG. 5 shown having a portion of a surgical clip supported therein;
FIG. 7 is a front, perspective view of a surgical clip for use in the surgical clip applier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of one leg of the surgical clip of FIG. 7;
FIG. 8A is a transverse, cross-sectional view of one leg of a surgical clip according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8B is a front, perspective view of another embodiment of a surgical clip according to the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a top, plan view of the surgical clip of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the surgical clip of FIG. 7 formed on a vessel.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of a surgical clip applier in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical structural elements. As shown in the drawings and described throughout the following description, as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on a surgical instrument, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is further away from the user.
Referring briefly to FIGS. 1-3, a surgical clip applier in accordance with the present disclosure is generally designated as 100. Surgical clip applier 100 generally includes a handle assembly 102 and an endoscopic portion including a shaft assembly 104 extending distally from handle assembly 102 and having a jaw assembly 120 disposed at a distal end thereof. A stack of surgical clips is typically loaded and/or retained within shaft assembly 104 in a manner so as to slide therewithin and/or therealong. A complete description of the inner-workings and operation of surgical clip applier 100 can be found in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/055,446 to Whitfield et. al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, jaw assembly 120 is mounted in the distal end of shaft assembly 104 such that jaws 120a, 120b are longitudinally stationary relative thereto. A knob 110 may be rotatably mounted on a distal end of handle assembly 102 and affixed to shaft assembly 104 to transmit and/or provide 360° rotation to shaft assembly 104 and jaws 120a, 120b about a longitudinal axis “x” thereof. As will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, jaws 120a and 120b of jaw assembly 120 each define a recess 122a, 122b within an inwardly facing surface thereof as well as a groove 124a, 124b defined within the respective recesses 122a, 122b. The recesses 122a and 122b and the grooves 124a and 124b are configured for guiding passage of a surgical clip (see FIGS. 6-10) therethrough.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, jaws 120a, 120b are shown each having a respective recess 122a, 122b extending longitudinally therealong. More specifically, recesses 122a and 122b are defined within inwardly facing surfaces 121a and 121b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively. Recesses 122a and 122b each define a width “w” (FIG. 5) and may have a generally rectangular transverse cross-sectional profile. As can be appreciated, width “w” is sufficiently large to allow passage therethrough of a clip “C” (FIG. 6). In other words, the width “w” is larger than a diameter “d” of clip “C” (FIG. 8) such that clip “C” is positionable at least partially within and slidable through recesses 122a and 122b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively. Recesses 122a, 122b may be formed within jaws 120a, 120b, respectively, via machining, or any other suitable process.
With continued reference to FIGS. 4-6, grooves 124a and 124b are defined within recesses 122a and 122b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively. Similar to recesses 122a and 122b, grooves 124a and 124b extend longitudinally along jaw members 120a and 120b, respectively. The width “w” of recess 122a of jaw 120a is larger than a maximum diameter of groove 124a such that a pair of shoulders 125a is defined at the interfaces between recess 122a groove 124a. Similarly to jaw 120a, the width of recess 122b of jaw 120b is larger than a maximum diameter of groove 124b such that a pair of shoulders is defined at the interfaces between recess 122b groove 124b. 
Grooves 124a and 124b are defined by first walls 126a, 127a and second walls 126b, 127b, respectively. Each pair of walls 126a, 127a and 126b, 127b extend toward each other at an angle “α,” eventually converging to a nadir 128a and 128b of grooves 124a and 124b, respectively. Thus, grooves 124a and 124b define a substantially triangular, or V-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, as best shown in FIGS. 4-6. It is also envisioned that first and second walls 126a, 126b and 127a, 127b may be non-linear, e.g., curved or bowed, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, to thereby define a chevron transverse cross-sectional profile. Additionally, grooves 124a, 124b and/or recesses 122a, 122b may be centered with respect to a height of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively, or with respect to width “w” of recesses 122a, 122b. Further, grooves 124a and 124b may be centered with respect to recesses 120a and 120b defined within jaws 120a and 120b, respectively.
Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, each clip “C” includes a pair of legs 220a, 220b interconnected by a crown, backspan, or crossbar 220c. An inwardly facing surface 222a, 222b of each leg 220a and 220b, respectively, defines a generally flat geometry such that upon forming of clip “C” about a body tissue or vessel, inwardly facing surfaces 222a and 222b of legs 220a and 220b consistently and evenly clamp around the body tissue or vessel. Outwardly facing surfaces 224a and 224b of legs 220a and 220b, respectively, may define a generally circular transverse cross-sectional profile and may include raised profiles 226a and 226b protruding from respective outwardly facing surfaces 224a and 224b and extending longitudinally therealong. Crossbar 220c may similarly include a raised profile 226c protruding therefrom and interconnecting raised profile 226a of leg 220a with raised profile 226b of leg 220b to form an uninterrupted raised profile substantially along the entire outwardly facing surface of clip “C.”
More particularly, as seen in FIG. 8, raised profile 226a is defined by first and second walls 227a and 228a, respectively, extending outwardly from outwardly facing surface 224a of leg 220a. First and second walls 227a and 228a, respectively, are angled toward each other at an angle “β” to a peak 229a to define a substantially triangular, V-shaped or chevron transverse cross-sectional profile. Similarly to leg 220a, raised profile 226b of leg 220b is defined by first and second walls extending outwardly from an outwardly facing surface of leg 220b. The first and second walls are also angled toward each other at an angle “β,” to a peak.
It is envisioned that angle “β,” the angle defined by walls 227a and 228a of raised profile 226a, and similarly defined by the first and second walls of raised profile 226b, is about equal to or less than the angle “α” defined between the first and second walls 126a, 126b and 127a, 127b of grooves 124a and 124b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively, such that raised profile 226a is at least partially positionable within groove 124a of jaw 120a and such that raised profile 226b is at least partially positionable within groove 124b of jaw 120b. 
Further, it is envisioned that first and second walls 227a and 228a of leg 220a and the first and second walls of leg 220b be non-linear, e.g., curved or bowed. Additionally, the non-linear shape of the first and second walls of legs 220a, 220b may be shaped similarly to non-linear walls 126a, 127a and 126b, 127b of grooves 124a and 124b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively. Accordingly, where angle “α” is equal to angle “β,” raised profiles 226a and 226b are thus shaped complementary to grooves 124a and 124b, respectively. However, it is also contemplated that where angles “α” and “β” are different, e.g., where “α” is greater than “β,” raised profiles 226a and 226b are shaped substantially, or quasi-complementarily to grooves 124a and 124b, respectively.
Turning now to FIG. 8A, an outer profile for an alternate clip “C1” is illustrated. As seen in FIG. 8A, an outwardly facing surface 224a′ of a leg 220a′ of clip “C1” includes substantially planar first and second walls 227a′ and 228a′ that are angled toward each other, by and angle “β”, to a peak 229a′ to define a substantially triangular shaped, V-shaped or chevron shaped transverse cross-sectional profile 226a′. 
Referring to FIG. 8B, another embodiment of a clip “C2” configured for use with surgical clip applier 100 (FIGS. 1-3) includes a pair of legs 220a′′, 220b′′ interconnected by a crossbar 220c′′. Clip “C2” is similar to clip “C” (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) and may include any of the features associated with clip “C” described above. However, different from clip “C” (FIGS. 7, 9 and 9), clip “C2” includes a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart, raised protrusions 226a′′ protruding from outwardly facing surface 224a′′ of leg 220a′′. Clip “C2” may also include protrusions (not explicitly shown) extending similarly from the outwardly facing surface of leg 220b′′ and/or from the outwardly facing surface of crossbar 220c′′. The protrusions, e.g., protrusions 226a′′, may be formed via coining, or any other suitable manufacturing process.
With continued reference to FIG. 8B, each protrusion 226a′′ includes a pair of opposed angled surfaces 227a′′, 228a′′ that are angled toward each other, defining an angle “β” (see FIG. 8) therebetween, and ultimately converging to define a peak 229a′′. In other words, angled surfaces 227a′′, 228a′′ and peak 229a′′ cooperate to define a substantially triangular, V-shaped or chevron transverse cross-sectional profile. Further, although two protrusions 226a′′ are shown, it is envisioned that greater or fewer that two protrusions 226a′′ be provided and/or that protrusions 226a′′ be spaced further-apart or closer-together relative to one another. Clip “C2” may otherwise be configured similarly to clip “C” (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) or clip “C1” (FIG. 8A), discussed above.
The operation of surgical clip applier 100, to crimp or form a surgical clip “C” around a target body tissue, such as, for example, a vessel (FIG. 10), will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-10.
Initially, clip applier 100 is positioned such that a tissue or a vessel “V” to be clamped is disposed between jaws 120a and 120b. As trigger 108 is squeezed or actuated, trigger 108 causes clip “C” to translate distally into recesses 122a and 122b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively, such that at least a portion of leg 220a is positioned within recess 122a of jaw member 120a and such that at least a portion of leg 220b is positioned within recess 122b of jaw member 120b. Thus, legs 220a and 220b of clip “C,” similar to jaws 120a and 120b, are now also positioned surrounding tissue or vessel “V” to be clamped.
In this position, the raised profiles 226a and 226b protruding from legs 220a and 220b, respectively, are positioned within grooves 124a and 124b of jaws 120a and 120b, respectively. This configuration ensures proper alignment of legs 220a and 220b of clip “C” relative to one another and, in turn, clip “C” within jaws 120a, 120b, respectively. In other words, recesses 122a and 122b, in cooperation with grooves 124a and 124b serve as a “track” to permit longitudinal translation of legs 220a and 220b of clip “C” therethrough, but substantially inhibit rotational, vertical and/or transverse movement and/or canting of legs 220a and 220b of clip “C” relative to one another, thereby helping to ensure proper alignment of clip “C” within jaws 120.
At this point, legs 220a and 220b of clip “C” are positioned within recesses 122a, 122b, with raised profiles 226a and 226b positioned within grooves 124a, 124b of jaws 120a, 120b, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 7-9, clip “C” initially defines an unformed configuration in which legs 220a and 220b are spaced apart relative to one another. As trigger 108 is squeezed further, jaws 120a and 120b are moved from the open position toward the approximated position, thereby beginning to form surgical clip “C” interposed therebetween. As seen in FIG. 10, surgical clip “C” may be formed or crimped onto a vessel “V” or any other biological tissue. During formation of clip “C,” the flat, inwardly facing surfaces 222a and 222b of legs 220a and 220b, are approximated toward each other to thereby effect clamping of vessel “V.” Alternatively, inwardly facing surfaces 222a, 222b may include one or more features to promote a secure and effective clamp about tissue or vessel “V.”
During formation of clip “C,” the complementary shaped raised profiles 226a and 226b of legs 220a and 220b of clip “C” are retained within grooves 124a and 124b of jaws 10a, 120b and, more specifically, legs 220a and 220b of clip “C” are retained with recesses 122a and 122b of jaws 120a, 120b, such that rotational, vertical and/or transverse movement of clip “C” relative to jaw assembly 120 is substantially inhibited. Accordingly, as jaws 120a and 120b are moved together to form clip “C,” legs 220a and 220b are similarly brought together, in a substantially aligned co-planar orientation, to clamp about vessel “V.” In other words, the recesses 122 and grooves 124 of the jaws 120a, 120b and corresponding configuration of clip “C”, including raised profiles 226 thereof, reduce incidents and/or prevent scissoring of legs 220a and 220 during formation of clip “C.” Increasing incidents of proper alignment of legs 220a and 220b helps in the proper formation of clips “C.”
Once clip “C” has been clamped about vessel “V,” as shown in FIG. 10, trigger 108 may be released, allowing jaw assembly 120 to return back to the spaced apart position. The above-described operation of surgical clip applier 100 may then be repeated for subsequent clamping of clips “C” about tissue.
In accordance with the present disclosure, in an embodiment, by providing grooves 124a, 124b in the jaws that interact and cooperate with raised profiles 226c of the clips, the width “w” of recesses 122a and 122b may be sufficiently large, relative to a maximum width of the legs of the clip, to accommodate variations in manufacturing tolerances with respect to a width dimension of the legs of the clips, with respect to a linearity of the legs of the clips, with respect to a width dimension of the recesses of the jaws, and with regard to a linearity of the recesses of the jaws.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and/or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.

## Claims

1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a handle assembly having a handle and a trigger moveable with respect to the handle;
an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle assembly, the elongated shaft including at least one surgical clip disposed therein, each surgical clip including a pair of legs connected to each other at one end by a crossbar, each of the pair of legs having an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface having a raised profile protruding therefrom and extending longitudinally therealong, wherein the outwardly facing surface of each leg of each surgical clip is defined by a first wall and a second wall angled toward each other and defining a first angle therebetween; and
a jaw assembly disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft, the jaw assembly including first and second opposed jaws moveable between a spaced apart position and an approximated position, each of the jaws defining a recess extending longitudinally along opposing inner surfaces thereof, each of the recesses defining a longitudinally extending groove having a profile substantially complementary to the raised profile of the legs of the at least one surgical clip, wherein the groove of each jaw is defined by a first wall and a second wall angled toward each other and defining a second angle therebetween, the first angle being smaller than the second angle;
wherein the legs of each of the surgical clips is positionable at least partially within respective grooves of the recesses of the jaws.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outwardly facing surfaces of the legs of each surgical clip have a substantially triangular transverse cross-sectional profile.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove defined in each recess of the jaws has a substantially triangular transverse cross-sectional profile.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each leg of each surgical clip has a chevron transverse cross-sectional profile.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shoulder is defined at an interface between the recess and the groove of each jaw at opposed sides of the groove.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the crossbar of each surgical clip has a chevron shaped transverse cross-sectional profile.