Surgical clip applier

Abstract

Surgical clip appliers are provided and include a housing; at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing; a channel assembly extending distally from the housing; a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows therein; a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier; a wedge plate reciprocally disposed within the channel assembly; and a clip pusher bar reciprocally positioned within the housing and the channel assembly. A clip follower is slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier and disposed proximally of the plurality of clips. The clip follower is configured and dimensioned to lockout the clip applier after a last clip of the plurality of clips has been expelled by the surgical clip applier.

1 . A surgical clip applier for applying surgical clips to body tissue, the surgical clip applier comprising:
 a housing;   at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing;   a channel assembly extending distally from the housing;   a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows therein;   a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier;   a wedge plate reciprocally disposed within the channel assembly, the wedge plate being operatively connected to the at least one handle and including a plurality of apertures formed along a length thereof;   a clip pusher bar reciprocally positioned within the housing and the channel assembly, the pusher bar having a proximal end operatively connected to at least one handle and a distal end defining a pusher, wherein the distal end of the pusher bar is configured for engagement with a distal-most clip of the plurality of clips; and   a clip follower slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier and disposed proximally of the plurality of clips, wherein the clip follower is configured and dimensioned to lockout the clip applier after a last clip of the plurality of clips has been expelled by the surgical clip applier.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a jaw assembly including a pair of jaws extending from an end of the channel assembly, opposite the housing, the jaw assembly adapted to accommodate a clip therein and being operable to effect formation of a clip in response to movement of the at least one handle.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 2 , wherein the pusher bar is movable towards the jaws as the at least one handle is approximated in a first direction in order to move a distal-most clip between the jaws, and the pusher bar being configured and adapted to move towards the housing as the at least one handle is further approximated in the first direction to move the pusher behind a distal-most clip in the plurality of clips. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 2 , wherein the clip follower further comprises a window formed in a body portion thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 4 , wherein upon the at least one handle being further actuated, the distal end of the pusher tip is disposed within the window of the clip follower. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 4 , wherein the clip follower is disposed within a distal end of clip channel and a down force of at least one resilient tang of the clip carrier facilitates retaining the clip follower at the distal end of the clip channel. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 4 , wherein upon the at least one handle being further actuated, the clip pusher engages a distal end of the window of the clip follower and distally urges the clip follower to move in between the jaws. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 7 , wherein the jaws are approximated toward one another and the clip follower is urged therebetween thereby preventing the jaws from closing. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 8 , wherein upon the at least one handle being further actuated, a ratchet mechanism is partially engaged thereby locking the at least one handle at a position. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip follower is configured to lock the at least one handle after a last clip of the plurality of clips has been expelled. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 1 , wherein upon the at least one handle being released from an actuated position, the pusher bar returns to a proximal position and, at a substantially same time, the clip follower is advanced distally within the clip carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 1 , wherein upon a release of the at least one handle from an actuated position, the clip pusher retracts proximally to a proximal position. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip follower defines at least one notch along each side thereof, the at least one notch being configured to facilitate bending of the clip follower in a direction transverse to a plane defined by a body portion thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip follower is configured and adapted for selective engagement with the windows of the clip carrier and the apertures of the wedge plate, wherein the clip follower is configured and adapted to urge the plurality of clips, in a distal direction relative to the clip carrier, upon reciprocal movement of the wedge plate. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 4 , wherein the clip follower is actuated by the reciprocating forward and backward motion of a wedge plate.