Clip applying apparatus with angled jaw

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to International Application Serial No. PCT/US2004/007401 filed Mar. 11, 2004, which, in turn, claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/453,581 filed on Mar. 11, 2003, entitled “CLIP APPLYING APPARATUS WITH ANGLED JAW”, and incorporates its entire contents by reference herein.

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to clip applying apparatus and ligation clips. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to clip applying apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue during surgical procedures which provide enhanced visibility at the surgical site.

[0004] 2. Background to Related Art

[0005] Surgical procedures frequently require ligation of blood vessels, severed tissues and/or other organs to control or stop bleeding. Clip applying apparatus for quickly applying a surgical clip about tissue are well known. Such clip applying apparatus include single clip applicators and multiple clip applicators. In single clip applicators, a new clip must be loaded into the apparatus after application of each clip. Multiple clip applicators include a series of clips which can be sequentially applied to tissue during the course of a surgical procedure.

[0006] Typically, clip applying apparatus include a handle mechanism, an elongated body portion, and a clip crimping assembly, e.g., a jaw or pair of jaws. Such clip applying apparatus are configured for endoscopic or open surgical procedures. One problem associated with known clip applying apparatus is obstructed visualization of the surgical site especially during endoscopic surgical procedures. More specifically, the jaw structure and/or the distal end of the body portion obstructs the surgeon's view of the surgical site. Accordingly, a continuing need exists for a clip applying apparatus which provides improved visibility of the surgical site during application of a surgical clip to tissue.

[0007] A clip applying apparatus is provided which includes a handle assembly, a body portion extending distally from the handle assembly and a jaw mechanism. The jaw mechanism includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is supported on or formed integrally with the distal end of a crimping member which is movably supported within the body portion. The stationary jaw defines a longitudinal axis which forms an angle θ of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees in relation to a longitudinal axis of the body portion. In one embodiment, angle θ is about 25 degrees. In another embodiment, the stationary jaw includes a clip receiving channel which is configured to at least partially receive a surgical clip. In one embodiment, the distal end of the stationary jaw includes a stop member which is positioned to engage the distal end of a leg of a surgical clip to prevent the surgical clip from being pushed from the stationary jaw during operation of the apparatus.

[0008] In another embodiment, the movable jaw includes a distally located crimping surface and a head portion defining a recessed channel configured to receive a portion of a surgical clip supported on the stationary jaw. In yet another embodiment, crimping surface defines an acute angle β in relation to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and in one embodiment, angle β is substantially equal to angle θ. Because of the angles of the stationary jaw and the crimping surface of the movable jaw, the distal ends of the legs of a surgical clip are approximated before approximation of the proximal ends of the legs. By approximating the legs of the surgical clip in this manner, tissue positioned between the legs of the surgical clip is retained between the legs of the clip during clip formation.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the presently disclosed clip applying apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the presently disclosed clip applying apparatus 10. Briefly, clip applying apparatus 10 includes a handle assembly 12 including a stationary handle 12a and a pivotable actuator trigger 12b, a central body portion 14 and a jaw mechanism 16. Although handle assembly 12 is illustrated having a pistol grip configuration other known handle configurations are envisioned, e.g., in-line handle, scissors handle, tweezers handle, etc. A rotatable knob 18 is rotatably supported on a distal end of handle assembly 12. Rotatable knob 18 supports the proximal end of central body portion 14 in a known manner such that rotatable knob 18, central body portion 14 and jaw mechanism 16 are rotatable in relation to handle assembly 12 about the longitudinal axis of central body portion 14. It is envisioned that the rotatable knob 18 can be configured to rotate the jaw mechanism 16 while the central body portion 14 remains stationary. Although specific details of the handle assembly 12 are not disclosed herein, the handle assembly 12 may include any handle mechanism known in the art to effect actuation of a clip pusher mechanism as will be described in detail below. Examples of such known handle mechanisms are well known and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,667, 5,868,761, 5,868,759, 5,725,538, 5,720,756, 5,700,270, 5,695,502, 5,645,553, 5,626,585, 5,591,178, 5,514,149, 5,462,558, 5,300,081, 5,197,970 and 4,509,518 all of which patents are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, jaw mechanism 16 includes a stationary jaw or anvil 24 and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is formed on a distal end 22 of a crimping member or pusher 20 and is movable from a proximal-most position (FIG. 7) to a distal-most position (FIG.9). These components will be described in further detail below.

[0023] Central body portion 14 includes an outer housing 19 positioned about the internal components of central body portion 14 and a crimping member or pusher 20. Crimping member 20 includes a proximal end (not shown) which is operatively connected to handle assembly 12, in a known manner, such that actuation of pivotable trigger 12b effects substantially linear movement of crimping member 20 along a longitudinal axis of central body portion 14 from an initial or retracted position (FIG. 7) to one or more advanced positions (FIGS. 8 and 9), where one of the advanced positions is a final position (FIG.9). The distal end 22 of crimping member 20 includes an angled crimping surface 22a including as guide slot or channel 28 positioned to receive, engage and crimp a surgical clip 50 supported on anvil 24 upon advancement of crimping member 20. Angled crimping surface 22a preferably defines an acute angle β of between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees and more preferably between about 20 degrees and about 45 degrees in relation to the longitudinal axis “X” of central body portion 14. Most preferably, angled crimping surface 22a defines an angle of about 30 degrees. The distal end 22 of crimping member 20 also includes a head portion 26. Head portion 26 defines channel 28 at a position adjacent a distal portion of crimping surface 22a. Channel 28 (FIG. 3) is dimensioned to receive and retain a surgical clip 50 positioned in the anvil 24 between the anvil 24 and crimping surface 22a.

[0024] Crimping member 20 is slidably positioned within central body portion 14. The distal end 22 of crimping member 20 includes a raised surface 22b which with a proximal portion of crimping member 20 defines a shoulder or stop 22c. Raised surface 22b is configured to be slidably received within an elongated slot 32 formed in a distal end of central body portion 14. Stop 22c engages a stepped surface (not shown) of central body portion 14 to limit proximal movement of crimping member 20. Head portion 26 has a width greater than the width of slot 32 to define a pair of abutment surfaces 34 which engage a distal face 36 of anvil body 38 when crimping member 20 is in a retracted position to further limit proximal movement of crimping member 20.

[0025] Anvil 24 includes anvil body 38 and an anvil jaw 40. The longitudinal axis of anvil jaw 40 defines an angle θ with respect the longitudinal axis “X” of central body portion 14 (FIG. 3). By providing anvil 24 with an angled jaw, visibility of the surgical site is improved. In one embodiment, angle θ is between about 15 degrees and about 75 degrees. In another embodiment, angle θ is between about 20 degrees and about 45 degrees. In yet another embodiment, angle θ is between about 25 and about 30 degrees. In yet a further embodiment, angle θ is about 25 degrees. Although not necessary, angle θ may be substantially the same as angle β of angled crimping surface 22a. Angled jaw 40 defines a clip receiving channel 42 which is aligned with crimping member slot 32. Channel 42 is dimensioned to receive a leg 52b of clip 50 and channel 42a is dimensioned to slidably receive crimping member 20 upon distal movement thereof. Channel 42a is also dimensioned to receive a portion of a clip of a single clip feed instrument or multiple clips of a multi-clip feed instrument. A stop member 44 having a surface 44a (FIG. 4) is formed at a distal end of channel 42 and engages a distal end 56b of leg 52b of clip 50 during clip formation to prevent the clip 50 from being pushed from or out of anvil jaw 40. Stop 44 and surface 44a are shaped in the form of a hook to facilitate use of the jaw and hook for dissection and manipulation of tissue. Clip receiving channel 42 and channel 42a also prevent clip 50 from being derailed from or misaligned with channel 42 and from being pushed from anvil jaw 40. Anvil body 38 is secured within the distal end of central body 14 using known fastening techniques, e.g., friction fit, welding, fusing, peening, crimping, threads, pins, adhesives, etc. Channel 42a formed through body 38 is contiguous with channel 42 and facilitates movement of crimping member 20 from a retracted position to an advanced position.

[0026] One embodiment of clip 50 is shown in FIG. 3. Clip 50 includes a pair of legs 52a and 52b and a backspan 54. In one embodiment, backspan 54 is curved or semi-circular however, other geometric configurations are also envisioned. Each leg 52a and 52b, typically, is substantially parallel to the other leg and may include a curved tip 56a and 56b, respectively, which curves towards the other curved tip of clip legs 52a and 52b. Curved tips 56a and 56b, when used, allow the legs to smoothly transverse channel 42 and anvil jaw 40 without binding within the jaw during loading and deformation of the clip 50. In one embodiment, clip 50 is constructed from a surgical grade metal such as titanium. Alternately, other materials suitable for surgical use and having the requisite strength and deformation characteristics may be used to construct the clip 50, e.g., filled or unfilled polymeric or plastic, absorbable materials, etc.

[0027] Operation of clip applying instrument 10 will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6-10. In use, a clip 50 is positioned in anvil jaw 40 with leg 52b of clip 50 supported in channel 42 of anvil jaw 40 and the proximal end of leg 52a located in channel 28 of head portion 26 of crimping member 20 (See FIGS. 3, 6 and 7). To prevent the clip 50 from becoming disengaged from anvil jaw 40 after it has been loaded, clip 50 may be shaped and/or dimensioned such that it must be elastically deformed slightly to position the clip 50 between anvil jaw 40 and head portion 26 of crimping member 20. As can be appreciated, this maintains the clip 50 under slight tension within the anvil jaw 40. This prevents slippage or unintentional dislodgement of the clip 50 prior to deformation.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 7, a properly loaded clip 50, prior to formation, has one leg 52b that lies along the anvil 24 in channel 42 and another leg 52a that extends distally from the channel 28 of crimping member 20 in a radially outward direction. Leg 52a extends radially outward from the longitudinal axis. The curved tip 56a of leg 52a is located radially outward beyond the anvil 24, the crimping member 20, and the body portion 14.

[0029] After a clip 50 has been loaded into anvil jaw 40, clip applying apparatus 10 can be manipulated to position jaw mechanism 16 adjacent a surgical site to position clip 50 about tissue 60 to be ligated. This may be accomplished by inserting central body portion 14 of apparatus 10 through an incision or a cannula or cannula assembly or via direct access to the surgical site.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 8, when clip 50 is properly positioned about tissue, vessel 60, and pivotable trigger 12b are actuated, i.e., compressed towards stationary handle 12a (See FIG. 1), to advance crimping member 20 in the direction indicated by arrow “A” towards anvil jaw 40. During the initial stage of advancement of crimping member 20, because crimping surface 22a is angled, upper leg 52a bends downwardly towards lower leg 52b in the direction indicated by arrow “B” such that tips 56a and 56b are moved into engagement with each other prior to the proximal portion of legs 52a and 52b becoming engaged. By crimping clip 52 in this manner, tissue to be ligated is prevented from exiting or being totally or partially expelled from the confines of the clip during clip formation. It is also envisioned that the tips 56a and 56b may be configured to overlap or matingly engage to secure the clip 50 about the vessel 60.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, crimping member 20 is moved to the fully advanced position (FIG. 9) in the direction indicated by arrow “A” to fully deform or crimp clip 52. Thereafter, pivotable handle 12b can be released to retract crimping member 20 and release clip 52 from anvil jaw 40. (See FIG. 10.)

[0032] The benefits of the presently disclosed clip applying apparatus 10 include improved visibility at the surgical site. This is due to the fact that one side of the anvil jaw 40 is angled outwardly from and unobstructed by the distal end of the clip applying apparatus 10. Further, by initiating clip closure at the tips 56a and 56b of the clip legs 52a and 52b, improved tissue confinement is achieved.

[0033] Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. For example, although clip applying apparatus 10 has been disclosed as a single clip applicator, it is envisioned that with modifications, it can be employed for applying a series or multiplicity of clips, such as from a cartridge mounted within the instrument as disclosed in the U.S. patents identified above and incorporated herein by reference. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of any appended claims.