US 11,918,231 B2
Articulating endoscopic surgical clip applier
Kenneth H. Whitfield, North Haven, CT (US); and Csaba L. Rethy, Westport, CT (US)
Assigned to COVIDIEN LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/544,023.
Application 17/544,023 is a continuation of application No. 16/299,356, filed on Mar. 12, 2019, granted, now 11,213,299.
Application 16/299,356 is a continuation of application No. 15/151,535, filed on May 11, 2016, granted, now 10,271,854, issued on Apr. 30, 2019.
Application 15/151,535 is a continuation of application No. 14/486,306, filed on Sep. 15, 2014, granted, now 9,393,024, issued on Jul. 19, 2016.
Application 14/486,306 is a continuation of application No. 13/772,998, filed on Feb. 21, 2013, granted, now 8,845,659, issued on Sep. 30, 2014.
Application 13/772,998 is a continuation of application No. 13/004,064, filed on Jan. 11, 2011, granted, now 8,403,945, issued on Mar. 26, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/308,093, filed on Feb. 25, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0096091 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/128 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/122 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/1285 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/083 (2013.01); A61B 17/105 (2013.01); A61B 17/1222 (2013.01); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00314 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00318 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00323 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2908 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a shaft assembly including:
an articulating neck assembly;
an end effector assembly supported on a distal end of the articulating neck assembly, the end effector assembly being configured to form a surgical clip in place on the body tissue, the end effector assembly including:
a drive sled slidably axially translatable within the end effector assembly, the drive sled defining a helical lumen;
an advancer plate slidably disposed within the end effector assembly;
at least one clip disposed in the end effector assembly;
jaws configured to receive and form the at least one clip;
a pusher bar configured to load the at least one clip into the jaws, wherein the pusher bar is detachably connected to the advancer plate; and
a drive bar configured to selectively engage the pusher bar to effectuate a closure of the jaws; and
a rotatable drive member operatively connected to the end effector assembly, wherein a rotation of the drive member results in a loading of the at least one clip into the jaws and in a closing of the jaws,
wherein the rotatable drive member includes an end effector drive screw threadably engaged with the helical lumen of the drive sled,
wherein the rotation of the rotatable drive member results in a rotation of the end effector drive screw and an axial translation of the drive sled, and
wherein during a distal advancement of the pusher bar, the pusher bar engages the advancer plate to distally move the advancer plate.