Patent Description:
In a surgical operation process, in order to avoid blood over losing from a surgical operation site, a surgical clip applier is usually applied to close a blood vessel by applying a clip on the blood vessel. The conventional way of using the surgical clip applier is locating the jaw which is mounted at a distal end of the surgical clip applier to a position near the target blood vessel by inserting the long rod-shaped surgical clip applier into the surgical operation site of the human body. Then, a handle at a proximal end of surgical clip applier is operated to make the jaw apply a clip on the blood vessel.

However, though the arranged clips can be delivered to the jaw sequentially, it cannot be clearly noticed that whether the last clip is run out when using the clip applier. With the careless attention, it is easy for the jaw to directly clamp the blood vessel and damage the vascular tissue by operate the surgical clip applier continuously after the last clip is discharged. It not only affects the operation process, but also causes unnecessary harm to the patient's body.

<CIT> and <CIT> discloses a conventional surgical clip applier with scissors structure. And <CIT> discloses a conventional surgical clip applier with blocking structure.

Therefore, it is an urgent program in the related field to develop a surgical clip applier with a locking function after the last clip is discharged.

To overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior surgical clip applier, the present invention provides a surgical clip applier according to claim <NUM>. Optional features are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention forms the locking structure as the wedge plate is blocked from the elastic leaf and prevent the jaw from closed by the wedge plate. With the revealed features, the surgical clip applier with the locking structure can overcome the shortage of the prior surgical clip applier which cannot be clearly noticed that the last clip is run out. Combining the design of the effect of preventing the reverse movement with the tooth-locking structure, the pressing handle can be locked and cannot be worked by the any other pression again. Specifically achieves an advantage that using a tactile-cue to notice the user that the clip in the surgical clip applier is run out, and prevents the misused of the surgical clip applier when preparing or using.

In order to make purposes, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention to be clearer, the following content provides some preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to <FIG>, a surgical clip applier in accordance with the present invention comprises a rod-shaped outer tube <NUM> extending along an axle, and a handle <NUM> mounted at a proximal end of the outer tube <NUM>. A jaw <NUM> protrudes from the distal end of the outer tube <NUM> and has two jaw units <NUM> which are spaced apart from each other and are mounted respectively on opposite sides of the jaw <NUM>. The space between two jaw units <NUM> defines a clamping space which can be narrowed or expanded according to the close or open movement from the two jaw units <NUM> driven by handle <NUM>.

In the preferred embodiment, the proximal end of the jaw <NUM> comprises a fixing portion which is located in and connected to the bottom of the outer tube <NUM> fixedly. Two jaw units <NUM> are spaced apart from each other, protrude respectively toward the left and right sides of the fixing portion and outwardly from the distal end of the fixing portion, and extend out of the outer tube <NUM>. The two jaw units <NUM> with the clamping space therebetween may exhibit an elastically deformed characteristic of closing to each other. The way of the two jaw units <NUM> driven by the handle <NUM> to close and to narrow the clamping space will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

The outer tube <NUM> comprises a feeding rod <NUM>, a clip carrier <NUM> and a wedge plate <NUM>. The feeding rod <NUM>, the clip carrier <NUM> and the wedge plate <NUM> extend along the axle and are arranged from a top to a bottom sequentially. The distal end of the feeding rod <NUM> forms a feeding unit <NUM> which protrudes downwardly. The proximal end of the feeding rod <NUM> is connected to the handle <NUM>. The feeding rod <NUM> presents a reciprocating movement relative to the outer tube <NUM> according to the movement of the handle <NUM>. When the feeding rod <NUM> is moved forwardly by the handle <NUM>, the feeding unit <NUM> may extend down to the clip carrier <NUM> and push the distal most clip A into the clamping space.

The clip carrier <NUM> is placed in the outer tube <NUM> fixedly and is a square groove with an upward opening side. A storage space <NUM> is defined inside the clip carrier <NUM> and the storage space <NUM> can hold multiple clips A from a distal end to a proximal end in sequence inside. Near the distal end, a window <NUM> is defined through the bottom of the clip carrier <NUM> and forms a locking structure after the last clip A is run out. The forming method of the locking structure will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

A block-like clip pusher <NUM> is located at the proximal side of the proximal most clip A and can be moved along the storage space <NUM>. The clip pusher <NUM> can push the proximal most clip A and generates a pushing force to urge the multiple clips A to move toward to the distal end of outer tube <NUM>. When the feeding rod <NUM> pushes the distal most clip A to the clamping space, the multiple remaining clips A can be pushed toward and supplemented to the distal end with the pushing force.

The manner of the clip pusher <NUM> to push the clips A is not limited in the present invention. A compressed-state spring can be placed at the proximal end of the clip pusher <NUM>, so that the clip pusher <NUM> can provide the pressing force to the clips A continuously. Alternatively, the clip pusher <NUM> can also be moved to the distal end of outer tube <NUM> by driving the handle <NUM> and push the multiple clips A forwardly.

The clip pusher <NUM> comprises an elastic leaf <NUM> which extends toward the distal end of the outer tube <NUM> downwardly. When the clip pusher <NUM> is placed in the storage space <NUM>, the elastic leaf <NUM> is elastically deformed and at least one part of the elastic leaf <NUM> abuts against the bottom surface of the clip carrier <NUM>. The elastic leaf <NUM> moves to the distal end of the outer tube <NUM> sequentially while the clip pusher <NUM> pushes the multiple clips A.

Referring to the <FIG>, when the handle <NUM> is triggered again after the last clip A is ejected, the clip pusher <NUM> drives the elastic leaf <NUM> to move to the position aligning with the window <NUM>. At mean time, the elastic leaf <NUM> can extend toward the window <NUM> by its own elastic restoring force and extend through the bottom side of the clip carrier <NUM>. Then, the wedge plate <NUM> which is located beneath the clip carrier <NUM> is blocked from its running direction by the elastic leaf <NUM>. The manner of which the elastic leaf <NUM> blocks the wedge plate <NUM> will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

The proximal end of the wedge plate <NUM> is connected to the handle <NUM>. The wedge plate <NUM> presents a reciprocating movement relative to the outer tube <NUM> according to the movement of the handle <NUM>. When the wedge plate <NUM> is moved distally, the distal end of the wedge plate <NUM> may urge the two jaw units <NUM> to close each other and narrow the clamping space. Preferably, the distal end of the wedge plate <NUM> covers around the left side and right side of the proximal end of the jaw <NUM>. When the distal end of the wedge plate <NUM> is moved forward and aligned with the two jaw units <NUM> which protrude outwardly toward the left side and right side, the two jaw units <NUM> are urged by the wedge plate <NUM>, the clamping space may be closed, and the clip A which is located in the clamping space may be compressed to be deformed.

Furthermore, a clip guard plate <NUM> is placed between the jaw <NUM> and the wedge plate <NUM>. The clip guard plate <NUM> comprises a top guard section <NUM> located at an upside of the jaw <NUM>, a bottom guard section <NUM> located at bottom side of the jaw <NUM>, and a connected section connected between the top guard section <NUM> and the bottom guard section <NUM>. A stop portion <NUM> is formed at the distal end of the bottom guard section <NUM>, protrudes out from the outer tube <NUM> to a position corresponding to at least a part of the clamping space. The stop portion <NUM> can guide the clip A and prevent the clip A from falling off from the clamping space when the feeding rod <NUM> is pushing. Also, in order to avoid the poor position that causes a blood vessel unable to be effectively clamped by the clip A, the stop portion <NUM> can limit the depth of a blood vessel placed into the clamping space, and optimize the operation smoothness of the surgical clip applier.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, near the distal end of the window <NUM>, a top guard window <NUM> is defined through the top guard section <NUM>. Thus, the elastic leaf <NUM> can sequentially extend through the window <NUM> and the top guard window <NUM> when the elastic leaf <NUM> is moved toward the distal end and the elastic leaf <NUM> can block the wedge plate <NUM> after extending through the window <NUM> and the top guard window <NUM>.

In certain embodiment, a bottom guard window, near the distal end of the top guard window <NUM> is defined through the bottom guard section <NUM>. It is worthy of notice that a relative positional relationship between the bottom guard window and the top guard window <NUM> is similar to the relative positional relationship between the top guard window <NUM> and the window <NUM> so that the window <NUM>, the top guard window <NUM> and the bottom guard window are arranged from top to bottom and toward to the distal end in sequence. Thus, the elastic leaf <NUM> can sequentially extending through the window <NUM>, the top guard window <NUM> and the bottom guard window when the elastic leaf <NUM> is moved toward the distal end to strengthen the effect provided by the elastic leaf <NUM> to block the wedge plate <NUM>.

Moreover, at least a proximal part of the top guard window <NUM> is overlapped with at least a distal part of the window <NUM>, and at least a proximal part of the bottom guard window is overlapped with the at least a distal part of the top guard window <NUM>. So that the elastic leaf <NUM> can extend through the window <NUM>, the top guard window <NUM> and the bottom guard window smoothly. Preferably, the feature of the bottom guard window is not necessary in this preferred embodiment, only the top guard window <NUM> defined through the top guard section <NUM> also can improve the blocking effect of the locking structure.

With reference to <FIG>, the feature of the handle <NUM> is not limited in the present invention. The present embodiment applies the features disclosed in the previous documents <CIT> and <CIT>. The handle <NUM> is a trigger structure including a pressing handle <NUM> and a fixed handle <NUM>. The pressing handle <NUM> is a rod-like shape and forms a pivot portion <NUM> which can pivot relative to the fixed handle <NUM> at the top side. A hook section <NUM> extends upwardly from the pivot portion <NUM>. When the pressing handle <NUM> is pivoted toward the fixed handle <NUM>, the hook section <NUM> may drive the feeding rod <NUM> and the wedge plate <NUM> to move toward the distal end of outer tube <NUM> to make the clip A be fired when the handle <NUM> is triggered.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the connection method of the feeding rod <NUM> and the wedge plate <NUM> with the handle <NUM> is not limited in the present invention. The present embodiment further referring to the features disclosed in the previous document <CIT>. The feeding rod <NUM> is a slice-rod shape with a proximal end extending though out the outer tube <NUM>. A feeding rod long hole and a feeding rod hole are defined radially though the proximal end of the feeding rod <NUM>. The feeding rod long hole is an elongated hole extending along a distal-proximal direction and located at the distal end of the feeding rod hole.

The wedge plate <NUM> is a slice-rod shape with a proximal end extending though out the outer tube <NUM>. A wedge plate hole corresponding to the feeding rod long hole is defined radially though the wedge plate <NUM>. The proximal end of the wedge plate <NUM> forms a hook extending in the proximal direction. The hook inwardly forms a notch from a side of the hook, and the feeding rod hole corresponds to the notch in position.

A drive element <NUM> is connected between the outer tube <NUM> and the handle <NUM> and comprises a slide bushing <NUM>. A positioning long hole <NUM> corresponding to the feeding rod long hole is defined through the slide bushing <NUM>. The positioning long hole <NUM> is an elongated hole extending in the distal-proximal direction. In correspondence with the position of the notch, an off-hooking long hole <NUM> is defined through the slide bushing <NUM>, and the off-hooking long hole <NUM> is an elongated hole extending in the distal-proximal direction. An inclined plane <NUM> is formed at the distal end of the off-hooking long hole <NUM>, and the inclined plane <NUM> is inclined toward the distal and the opening side of the notch.

A first bushing <NUM> is sheathed on the slide bushing <NUM> at a position where the feeding rod positioning pin long hole <NUM> is defined. The first bushing <NUM> is connected to the hook section <NUM> and can be moved toward the distal-proximal direction along the slide bushing <NUM>. A first pin hole is defined through the first bushing <NUM>. A first pin <NUM> is inserted through the first pin hole, the feeding rod long hole and the wedge plate hole sequentially. Thus, when the first bushing <NUM> is moved forward, the first pin <NUM> can drive the wedge plate <NUM> to move at the mean time.

A second bushing <NUM> is sheathed on the slide bushing <NUM> at a position in which the off-hooking long hole <NUM> is defined. The second bushing <NUM> is moved toward the distal-proximal direction along the slide bushing <NUM>. A drive spring <NUM> is compressed and abuts against between the first bushing <NUM> and second bushing <NUM>. A second pin hole <NUM> is defined through the second bushing <NUM> and has an extending direction same as the notch. An off-hooking pin <NUM> is inserted through the second pin hole <NUM>, the off-hooking long hole <NUM> and the notch sequentially, and is fixed in the feeding rod hole at the proximal side of the feeding rod <NUM>. The off-hooking pin <NUM> can drive the feeding rod <NUM> to move along the off-hooking long hole <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> to <FIG>, since an initiated position, the off-hooking pin <NUM> abuts against an inner side of the notch, so that the hook at proximal side of the wedge plate <NUM> can hook the off-hooking pin <NUM>. The drive spring <NUM> is maintained in a compressed statue.

When the handle <NUM> is triggered, the first slide bushing <NUM> drives the wedge plate <NUM> to move forward distally. Because the wedge plate <NUM> is hooking with the off-hooking pin <NUM>, the second bushing <NUM> and the feeding rod <NUM> is moved forward altogether with the wedge plate <NUM>. At the same time, the distal most clip A is moved to the clamping space by the feeding unit <NUM>, and the clip pusher <NUM> pushes the proximal most clip A to urge the rest of clips A to move toward the distal end.

With the handle <NUM> being triggered continuously, the off-hooking pin <NUM> is moved to the inclined plane <NUM>. The off-hooking pin <NUM> is moved along the inclined plane <NUM> which is toward the open side of the notch and separated from the hook. At this time, the second bushing <NUM> is moved backward proximally due to the drive spring <NUM> and drives the off-hooking pin <NUM> and the feeding rod <NUM> to move back to an original position. In the meantime, the distal most clip A is already placed in the clamping space, and the feeding rod <NUM> is returned to the initiated position.

Since the handle <NUM> is still triggered, the wedge plate <NUM> is moved froward continuously until the two jaw units <NUM> are urged by the distal end of the wedge plate <NUM> and the clip A is clamped in the clamping space to be deformed. When the handle <NUM> is released, the first bushing <NUM> may drive the wedge plate <NUM> to move backward. The first bushing <NUM> then compresses the drive spring <NUM> and makes the hook to return to the original position with hooking the off-hooking pin <NUM>. Thus, the whole steps of discharging a clip A of the surgical clip applier is completed.

Referring to the <FIG>, a preferred embodiment of the surgical clip applier with locking structure in accordance with the present invention is retriggered after the last clip A is discharged. With the last clip A is ejected, there are no more clips A in the clip carrier <NUM>, and the clip pusher <NUM> is moved to the distal end of the clip carrier <NUM>. When the pressing handle <NUM> is retriggered, the feeding rod <NUM> and the clip pusher <NUM> are moved forwardly and the clip pusher <NUM> drives the elastic leaf <NUM> to move to the position aligning with the window <NUM>. As the distal moving of the clip pusher <NUM>, the elastic leaf <NUM> extends through the window <NUM>, the top guard window <NUM> and the bottom guard window sequentially to make the wedge plate <NUM> be blocked in the running direction of the wedge plate <NUM>.

Moreover, with the features disclosed in the previous documents <CIT>, a tooth-locking structure <NUM> is located near the pressing handle <NUM> and comprises a ratchet <NUM> protruding from the pivot portion <NUM> and a toothed block <NUM>. The toothed block <NUM> forms a toothed edge <NUM> facing the ratchet <NUM>. When the handle <NUM> is triggered or released, the toothed edge <NUM> engages and moves along the ratchet <NUM> unidirectionally according to a pivot direction of the pressing handle <NUM>. The toothed block <NUM> is pivoted toward the pivot direction at the same time. Two connect springs <NUM>, at the other side of the toothed edge <NUM>, are respectively settled at two opposite sides of the toothed block <NUM>. After the toothed edge <NUM> moves unidirectionally along the ratchet <NUM>, one of the connect springs <NUM> can provide a reverse pulling force to make the toothed block <NUM> move toward to a counter direction. The reverse pulling force generated by the two connect springs <NUM> can smooth the engagement of the toothed edge <NUM> and the ratchet <NUM> when the pressing handle <NUM> is pivoted for being triggered or released.

When the handle <NUM> is triggered again after the last clip A is ejected, since the wedge plate <NUM> is blocked and cannot move forward distally due to the elastic leaf <NUM>. The toothed edge <NUM> is stuck in at least a part of the ratchet <NUM> and cannot be pivoted, so that the effect of preventing the reverse movement of the handle <NUM> is achieved.

Claim 1:
A surgical clip applier comprising an outer tube (<NUM>) with a jaw (<NUM>) protruding from a distal end of the outer tube (<NUM>) and a handle (<NUM>) mounted at a proximal end of the outer tube (<NUM>), in the outer tube (<NUM>) from top to bottom sequentially arranged comprising:
a feeding rod (<NUM>) with a proximal end connected to the handle (<NUM>) presenting a reciprocate movement relative to the outer tube (<NUM>) from a movement of the handle (<NUM>), and the feeding rod (<NUM>) moving a distal most clip (A) into the jaw (<NUM>);
a clip carrier (<NUM>) which is a square groove with an upward opening side placed in the outer tube (<NUM>) fixedly and, the clip carrier (<NUM>) defining a storage space (<NUM>) inside and multiple clips (A) are held in the storage space (<NUM>) from a distal end to a proximal end in sequence, and a window (<NUM>) defined through a bottom of the distal end of the clip carrier (<NUM>); and
a clip pusher (<NUM>) located at a proximal side of a proximal most clip of the multiple clips (A) in the storage space (<NUM>) and the clip pusher (<NUM>) pushing the clips (A) to the distal end of the outer tube (<NUM>) from a proximal side of the clip carrier (<NUM>);
and a wedge plate (<NUM>) with a proximal end connected to the handle (<NUM>) presenting a reciprocate movement relative to the outer tube (<NUM>) from the movement of the handle (<NUM>), and the wedge plate (<NUM>) being applied to close the jaw (<NUM>);
characterized in that an elastic leaf (<NUM>) extends toward the distal end of the outer tube (<NUM>) from the clip pusher (<NUM>), the elastic leaf (<NUM>) deformed elastically by abutting against a bottom surface of the clip carrier (<NUM>), the elastic leaf (<NUM>) being moved to the distal end sequentially according to a movement of the clip pusher (<NUM>); and
wherein
when the handle (<NUM>) is triggered again after a last clip (A) is fired, the clip pusher (<NUM>) drives the elastic leaf (<NUM>) to move to a position aligning with the window (<NUM>), the elastic leaf (<NUM>) extends through the window (<NUM>) and blocks the wedge plate (<NUM>) from moving to the distal end of the outer tube (<NUM>).