Surgery – Instruments – Surgical mesh – connector – clip – clamp or band
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-07-31
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Surgical mesh, connector, clip, clamp or band
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267773
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to clips and clamps, and more specifically to low-profile spring clips adapted for use in surgical procedures.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Surgical clips and clamps are commonly used to occlude body conduits such as blood vessels. These clips and clamps typically have parallel jaws that are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Ratchet clips, such as those disclosed by Blake in U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,923, include a ratchet mechanism that functions to hold the jaws in the closed position. Other clips include extension or compression springs for biasing the jaws to the closed position. Representative of this art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,058. Low-profile clips include tabs, which are moveable to operate the jaws as disclosed by applicant in application Ser. No. 08/949,126, filed on Jun. 17, 1999, and entitled Low-Profile Surgical Clip, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The low-profile clips typically include a telescoping barrel with a pair of jaws on one side, and a pair of actuating finger tabs on the other. Closing the tabs opens the jaws against the bias of a spring disposed in the telescoping barrel. In the past, the telescoping barrels have been formed with a shape complimentary to that of the cylindrical spring. Although the cylindrical barrel design has facilitated assembly of the clip, unfortunately it has not contributed significantly to the angular stability of the jaws. As a consequence, the jaws have tended to scissor, rather than maintain their preferred parallel relationship.
The guidance ratios of the telescoping barrels has also been somewhat limited in the past. This guidance ratio is commonly determined by dividing the guidance length by the radial width of the smallest telescoping member. In the past, guidance ratios for a low-profile construction have been generally limited to about 1.0.
Of course, it is always desirable to achieve an improved construction requiring a fewer number of parts. Where this can occur in combination with an easier method of assembly, manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced. It is always desirable to decrease the flexibility of a clip in order to prevent scissoring and to maintain the desired parallel relationship of the jaws. Providing increased guidance ratios is also desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the deficiencies of the prior art have been overcome with a clip assembly, including only two molded components. While maintaining the desired telescoping relationship of the barrel, the barrel parts can be formed with a cross-sectional shape in the form of a polygon, such as a rectangle. This greatly increases the stability of the clip and the desired parallel relationship of the jaws. This stability is further increased by developing a guidance ratio greater than about 1.5, and by providing ramped projections between the telescoping parts in order to minimize jaw tipping. A rectangular barrel configuration also facilitates a method of assembly which does not require that the parts be snap-fit and yet facilitates accurate alignment and stability for the clip.
In one aspect of the invention, the surgical spring clip includes a first molded component having a first jaw and a first finger tab. A second component having a second jaw and second finger tab comprises the only other molded component of the clip. The first component is moveable by operation of the first finger tab between a first position wherein the jaws are generally closed and a second position wherein the jaws are generally open. The spring is disposed generally between the tabs and the jaws for biasing the first component and the second component toward the first position.
In another aspect of the invention, a surgical spring clip includes a first component having a first barrel, with a first finger support disposed on one side of the barrel and a first jaw disposed on an opposing side of the barrel. A second component has a second barrel with a second finger support disposed on one side of the second barrel and a second jaw disposed on an opposing side of the second barrel. The first barrel and second barrel have a telescoping relationship and are moveable relative to each other between first position and a second position. At least one of the first barrel and the second barrel define a housing. A spring having a cross-sectional shape is disposed in the housing for biasing the first barrel and the second barrel to the first position. The first barrel and second barrel have a cross-sectional shape which is different than the cross-sectional shape of the spring.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for assembling a surgical spring clip includes the steps of providing a first component having a first barrel with a first finger support on one side of the first barrel and a first jaw on the opposite side of the first barrel. Similarly, a second component has a second barrel with a second finger support on one side of the second barrel and a second jaw on the opposite side of the second barrel. A window is formed in the first component between a first wall and a second wall parallel to the first wall. The second jaw of the second component is moved generally parallel to the first wall and the second wall of the first component and into the window. During this moving step, the second component is tilted relative to the first component to place the first jaw and the second jaw in a generally parallel relationship. Also, during this moving step, a spring can be installed between the first component and the second component.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3509882 (1970-05-01), Blake
patent: 3510923 (1970-05-01), Blake
patent: 4106508 (1978-08-01), Berlin
patent: 4337774 (1982-07-01), Perlin
patent: 4424811 (1984-01-01), Groot
patent: 4815466 (1989-03-01), Perlin
patent: 4817604 (1989-04-01), Smith, III
patent: 4931058 (1990-06-01), Cooper
patent: 4932955 (1990-06-01), Merz et al.
patent: 4976721 (1990-12-01), Blasnik et al.
patent: 5011487 (1991-04-01), Shichman
patent: 5042118 (1991-08-01), Rubik
patent: 5335398 (1994-08-01), Schöttker et al.
patent: 5653720 (1997-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5984934 (1999-11-01), Ashby et al.
Gadberry Donald L.
Lee Eric
Bui Vy Q.
Recla Henry J.
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