Patent Description:
In order to fully expose a surgical visual field during a surgical operation, target tissue at an incision needs to be ligated to stop bleeding. Hemostasis technique has become one of main surgical techniques. Surgical operations on any part of human body almost without exception involve bleeding and stopping bleeding. Generally, a ligation clip applied by a clip applicator is used to clamp the target tissue so as to stop bleeding. A conventional clip applicator is usually single-firing and only applies one ligation clip at one time, and another ligation clip needs to be placed into the clip applicator after the one ligation clip clamps the target blood vessel. However, during the surgical operation, a plurality of ligation clips are required so as to stop bleeding; in this case, the conventional clip applicator has to enter and exit a puncture many times for example during an endoscopic surgical operation, which causes the time of the surgical operation to be too long, increases the bleeding amount of the patient, and adversely affects postoperative recovery of the patient. In addition, the conventional clip applicator completes the delivery of the ligation clip and the firing of the ligation clip only by one shaft, and has strong dependent and restrictive relationships between the delivery of the ligation clip and the firing of the ligation clip so that operation errors are easily caused.

<CIT> discloses a surgical device for applying surgical fasteners to body tissues in order to fasten the body tissues together. The device comprises an operation section having a housing having an inner space completely sealed from the outside, drive elements electrically driven and arranged in the inner space of the operation section, an insertion section including a housing which has a first end portion containing the fasteners and having an opening through which the fasteners are to be applied, and a second end portion removably coupled to the housing of the operation section, fastener-applying elements located in the housing of the insertion section, for applying the fasteners from the opening to body tissues, and force-transmitting elements for transmitting drive force from the drive elements to the fastener-applying elements.

<CIT>discloses a surgical device including a first jaw and a second jaw is presented. The surgical device also includes a biasing element that biases the distal end of the first jaw towards the distal end of the second jaw. The device also includes a first driver disposed in the second jaw and coupled to the first jaw. The first driver is configured to cause separation of the first jaw and the second jaw. The device further includes at least one of cutting element and a stapling element disposed within the second jaw, preferably a blade rotatably mounted on a wedge. A second driver is configured to move the cutting element and/or the stapling element proximally from a distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to at least one of cut and staple a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.

The present disclosure aims to provide a dual-motor clip applicator to solve the problems that the conventional clip applicator needs to complete the firing of the ligation clip and the delivery of the ligation clip by one shaft and thus has strong dependent and restrictive relationships between the firing of the ligation clip and the delivery of the ligation clip to easily cause operational errors and the like; the dual-motor clip applicator provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure uses two motors, such that the operation is simpler, the freedom degree of the operation is higher, and the error rate is reduced.

In order to achieve the above objects, the technical solutions of the present disclosure are provided as follows. A dual-motor clip applicator comprises a working head, and a first motor, a second motor, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly and a clip cartridge assembly that are provided in the working head. The clip cartridge assembly comprises a clip cartridge configured to accommodate a ligation clip and a clip jaw provided on a side of the clip cartridge; the working head further comprises a firing rod and a clip-pushing rod, the firing rod is connected to the clip jaw to drive the clip jaw to open or close for firing the ligation clip, the first driving assembly is respectively connected to the firing rod and the first motor, the second driving assembly is respectively connected to the clip-pushing rod and the second motor, and the clip-pushing rod is configured to push the ligation clip in the clip cartridge to enter into the clip jaw.

The above description is only an outline of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In order to better understand the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure so that they can be implemented according to the contents of the specification, the following detailed description will be made with the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The exemplary specific modes of the present disclosure will be described in further detail below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. The following embodiments are intended to illustrate the present disclosure, but not to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that the terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer" and the like in the present disclosure are only intended to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure by referring to the drawings, and are not used as limiting terms.

Referring to <FIG>, a dual-motor clip applicator is provided by embodiments of the present disclosure, the dual-motor clip applicator includes a working head <NUM>, and a first motor <NUM>, a second motor <NUM>, a first driving assembly <NUM>, a second driving assembly <NUM> and a clip cartridge assembly that are provided in the working head <NUM>; the clip cartridge assembly includes a clip cartridge <NUM> configured to accommodate a ligation clip and a clip jaw <NUM> provided on a side of the clip cartridge <NUM>; a firing rod <NUM> and a clip-pushing rod <NUM> are further provided in the working head <NUM>, the firing rod <NUM> is connected to the clip jaw <NUM> to drive the clip jaw <NUM> to open or close for firing the ligation clip, the first driving assembly <NUM> is respectively connected to the firing rod <NUM> and the first motor <NUM>, the second driving assembly <NUM> is respectively connected to the clip-pushing rod <NUM> and the second motor <NUM>, and the clip-pushing rod <NUM> is configured to push the ligation clip in the clip cartridge <NUM> to enter into the clip jaw <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first driving assembly <NUM> includes a first driving gear <NUM>, a first nut <NUM> and a first threaded rod <NUM>, the first driving gear <NUM> is provided on the first motor <NUM>, gears <NUM> engaging with each other are respectively provided on the first driving gear <NUM> and the first nut <NUM>, the first threaded rod <NUM> is connected to the first nut <NUM> by thread connection manner, and the first threaded rod <NUM> is connected to the firing rod <NUM>. The second driving assembly <NUM> includes a second driving gear <NUM>, a second nut <NUM> and a second threaded rod <NUM>, the second driving gear <NUM> is provided on the second motor <NUM>, gears <NUM> engaging with each other are respectively provided on the second driving gear <NUM> and the second nut <NUM>, the second threaded rod <NUM> is connected to the second nut <NUM> by thread connection manner, and the second threaded rod <NUM> is connected to the clip-pushing rod <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, an end of the clip cartridge <NUM> is provided with a mounting part <NUM>, and the clip jaw <NUM> is mounted to the mounting part <NUM>. For example, a mounting hole <NUM> is respectively provided on the clip jaw <NUM> and the mounting part <NUM>; and a mounting pin (not shown) is inserted into the mounting holes <NUM> so that the clip jaw <NUM> is mounted to the mounting part <NUM>. The clip jaw <NUM> includes a first clip jaw sheet <NUM> and a second clip jaw sheet <NUM>, a connecting groove <NUM> is respectively provided on the first clip jaw sheet <NUM> and the second clip jaw sheet <NUM>, and the connecting groove <NUM> provided on the first clip jaw sheet <NUM> and the connecting groove <NUM> provided on the second clip jaw sheet <NUM> cross with each other. A positioning groove <NUM> is provided on the first clip jaw sheet <NUM> and the second clip jaw sheet <NUM>. After entering the clip jaw <NUM>, the ligation clip is accommodated in the positioning grooves <NUM>. A connecting pin <NUM> is provided on an end, close to the clip jaw <NUM>, of the firing rod <NUM>, and the connecting pin <NUM> is fixedly provided in the connecting grooves <NUM>, such that the firing rod <NUM> drives the clip jaw <NUM> to open or close for firing the ligation clip. In the embodiments, an X-shaped arrangement is used. The clip jaw <NUM> is mounted on the mounting part <NUM>; if the firing rod <NUM> pushes the clip jaw <NUM> outwards, the connecting pin <NUM> provides an outward push force for the first clip jaw sheet <NUM> and the second clip jaw sheet <NUM>, such that the clip jaw <NUM> opens; and if the firing rod <NUM> pulls the clip jaw <NUM> inwards, the connecting pin <NUM> provides an inward pull force for the first clip jaw sheet <NUM> and the second clip jaw sheet <NUM>, such that the clip jaw <NUM> closes and fires.

For example, a clip delivery assembly <NUM> configured for pushing the ligation clip to move in the clip cartridge <NUM> is provided in the clip cartridge <NUM>. The clip delivery assembly <NUM> includes a clip pushing block <NUM>. The clip pushing block <NUM> abuts against and pushes the ligation clip, and the clip-pushing rod <NUM> is connected to the clip pushing block <NUM>. In the embodiments, the clip delivery assembly <NUM> for example further includes a spring. The spring is connected with the clip pushing block <NUM> and plays a reset role. A first channel <NUM> and a second channel <NUM> are provided on the clip cartridge <NUM>. The clip-pushing rod <NUM> and the clip delivery assembly <NUM> are provided in the first channel <NUM>, and the firing rod <NUM> is provided in the second channel <NUM>. The second driving assembly <NUM> controls a position of the clip pushing block <NUM> in the clip cartridge <NUM> by driving the clip-pushing rod <NUM> to move, so as to drive the ligation clip to move. With the above arrangement, the electric and continuous firing of the ligation clips in the clip cartridge <NUM> is implemented; and theoretically, there are no limits made on the total number of the ligation clips in the clip cartridge <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the clip cartridge assembly further includes an outer sleeve <NUM>, the outer sleeve <NUM> is provided in the working head <NUM> and is sleeved on the clip cartridge <NUM>, and a cutout <NUM> for the opening or firing of the clip jaw <NUM> is provided at an end, close to the clip jaw <NUM>, of the outer sleeve <NUM>. The working head <NUM> further includes a support sleeve <NUM> that is connected to the outer sleeve <NUM> and is also provided with the first channel <NUM> and the second channel <NUM>, and the firing rod <NUM> and the clip-pushing rod <NUM> are respectively provided in the first channel <NUM> and the second channel <NUM> of each of the support sleeve <NUM> and the clip cartridge <NUM>. With such a design, the support sleeve <NUM> is used repeatedly without replacement, but the clip cartridges <NUM> of different models and specifications are mounted for surgical operation. In the embodiments, a protective sleeve <NUM> is sleeved on the support sleeve <NUM>, and the protective sleeve <NUM> is connected to the outer sleeve <NUM>.

The dual-motor continuous-firing clip applicator provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure further includes a handle <NUM>, a control circuit (not shown in the figures) is provided in the handle <NUM>, the control circuit is electrically connected to the first motor <NUM> and the second motor <NUM>, and the control circuit comprises a motor control module, a support sleeve identification module, a clip delivery and clip firing control module, a battery detection and control module, a working status indicator module and a data record storage module that are controlled by single-chip processor.

In the control circuit:
The motor control module is configured for controlling the switching-on and switching-off of a drive motor; a closing/opening button (not shown) mounted at a lower portion of the handle <NUM> is isolated from an inner part of the main body of the clip applicator; and the motor control is realized by a magnet inside the button being close to or away from a Hall switch sealed and packaged in the handle.

The support sleeve identification module transmits the data about the type of the support sleeve by a terminal (not shown) provided on the support sleeve <NUM>, and then the control circuit starts a corresponding working program based on the data.

The clip delivery and clip firing control module, together with a signal identification module (not shown), a photoelectric limit switch position control module, and a safety module that are mounted in the support sleeve <NUM>, realizes the delivery of the ligation clip and the firing of the ligation clip.

The battery detection and control module provides a battery power detection function, and monitors the battery power before and during the surgical operation to ensure that the battery power used during the surgical operation meets the needs of the surgical operation or the battery is replaced in time.

The working status indicator module provides a status of the battery power, a support sleeve connection status, a status of completing the delivery of the ligation clip, and a status of completing the firing of the ligation chip by a display.

The dual-motor clip applicator provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure operates as follows. Initially, a plurality of ligation clips are provided in the clip cartridge <NUM>, and the clip pushing block <NUM> connected to the clip-pushing rod <NUM> is provided at a side of the ligation clips away from the clip jaw <NUM>; during the process of delivering the ligation clip into the clip jaw, by pressing the button on the handle <NUM>, the firing rod <NUM> drives the clip jaw <NUM> to open, and at this time, the clip-pushing rod <NUM> is pushed forwards, thereby driving the clip pushing block <NUM> to push the ligation clip to enter the positioning groove <NUM> of the clip jaw <NUM>; after the ligation clip reaches a position of a target vessel or tissue, by pressing the button on the handle <NUM>, the firing rod <NUM> drives the clip jaw <NUM> to pull back and close such that the target vessel or tissue is ligated, thereby completing the firing. Then, the above procedures are repeated to complete the firing of the next ligation clip.

Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present disclosure at least are as follows. The dual-motor clip applicator provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure uses the first motor and the second motor to respectively control the firing of the clip jaw and the clip delivery of the clip cartridge, such that the operation is simpler, the freedom degree of the operation is higher, the error rate is reduced, and the problems that the conventional clip applicator needs to complete the firing of the ligation clip and the delivery of the ligation clip by one shaft and thus has strong dependent and restrictive relationships between the firing of the ligation clip and the delivery of the ligation clip to easily cause operational errors and the like are solved.

Furthermore, according to the dual-motor clip applicator, the working head is separated into the support sleeve and the clip cartridge assembly that are connected to each other, the clip delivery assembly is provided in the clip cartridge, and the firing rod and the clip-pushing rod are provided in the support sleeve and the clip cartridge; and thus, the support sleeve is capable of being reused, so that clip cartridge assemblies of different specifications are mounted to meet the surgical requirements, thereby greatly reducing the cost and reducing the number of surgical instruments.

In addition, the clip applicator of the embodiments of the present disclosure works automatically, is electrically driven and does not rely on the experience and status of a doctor; therefore, the stability of a ligation effect is good, and the doctor does not need to fire manually, which saves the doctor's physical strength, time and effort.

The technical features of the foregoing embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, all possible combinations of the various technical features in the foregoing embodiments are not described. However, as long as there is no conflict in the combination of these technical features, all combinations should be considered as within the scope of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A dual-motor clip applicator, comprising a working head (<NUM>), and a handle (<NUM>), wherein the working head (<NUM>) comprises: a first motor (<NUM>), a second motor (<NUM>), a first driving assembly (<NUM>), a second driving assembly (<NUM>), and a clip cartridge assembly that are provided in the working head (<NUM>),
the clip cartridge assembly comprises a clip cartridge (<NUM>) configured to accommodate a ligation clip and a clip jaw (<NUM>) provided on a side of the clip cartridge (<NUM>);
the working head (<NUM>) further comprises a firing rod (<NUM>) and a clip-pushing rod (<NUM>), the firing rod (<NUM>) is connected to the clip jaw (<NUM>) to drive the clip jaw (<NUM>) to open or close for firing the ligation clip, the first driving assembly (<NUM>) is respectively connected to the firing rod (<NUM>) and the first motor (<NUM>), the second driving assembly (<NUM>) is respectively connected to the clip-pushing rod (<NUM>) and the second motor (<NUM>), and the clip-pushing rod (<NUM>) is configured to push the ligation clip in the clip cartridge (<NUM>) to enter into the clip jaw (<NUM>).