Endoscopic surgical clip applier

Abstract

A reposable surgical instrument includes a handle assembly and an endoscopic assembly releasably engagable with the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing, a drive bar supporting a ratchet pawl, and a trigger coupled to the housing and the drive bar. The endoscopic assembly includes a proximal hub including a ratchet rack, an elongated shaft extending from the proximal hub and supporting an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, and a drive assembly operably coupled to the end effector assembly. In use, movement of the trigger from an un-actuated position towards an actuated position translates the drive bar from a proximal position towards a distal position to engage the ratchet pawl with the ratchet rack such that further distal translation of the drive bar towards the distal position incrementally urges the drive assembly from the un-fired position towards the fired position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An endoscopic assembly for applying surgical clips and configured for ratcheting use, the endoscopic assembly comprising:
 a proximal hub insertable into and releasably engagable within a receiver assembly of an actuation assembly, the proximal hub including a ratchet rack disposed therein, the ratchet rack defining a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein the ratchet rack defines a length corresponding to a firing stroke length for the endoscopic assembly;   an elongated shaft extending distally from the proximal hub;   an end effector assembly supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft; and   a drive assembly including an inner shaft slidably disposed within the proximal hub and the elongated shaft and defining proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft operably coupled to the end effector assembly such that movement of the inner shaft from an un-fired position to a fired position effects manipulation of the end effector assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The endoscopic assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the teeth of the ratchet rack project radially inward towards the inner shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The endoscopic assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the ratchet rack is positioned adjacent a proximal-most end of the proximal hub. 
     
     
         24 . The endoscopic assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a plunger operably engaged with the proximal end of the inner shaft, wherein the plunger is configured to:
 translate together with the inner shaft from the un-fired position to the fired position; and   translate distally, independently of the inner shaft and relative thereto, from the fired position to an end position.   
     
     
         25 . The endoscopic assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the drive assembly includes first and second springs, the second spring defining a spring constant greater than that of the first spring such that the first spring is compressed upon translation of the plunger together with the inner shaft from the un-fired position to the fired position, and such that the second spring is compressed upon translation of the plunger distally independently of the inner shaft and relative thereto from the fired position to the end position. 
     
     
         26 . The endoscopic assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members, and wherein movement of the inner shaft of the drive assembly from the un-fired position to the fired position moves the first and second jaw members from an open position to a closed position. 
     
     
         27 . The endoscopic assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to receive a surgical clip therebetween, and wherein moving the first and second jaw members from the open position to the closed position forms the surgical clip loaded therein. 
     
     
         28 . A reposable surgical instrument, comprising:
 an endoscopic assembly for applying surgical clips and configured for ratcheting use, the endoscopic assembly including:
 a proximal hub insertable into and releasably engagable within a receiver assembly of an actuation assembly, the proximal hub including a ratchet rack disposed therein, the ratchet rack defining a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein the ratchet rack defines a length corresponding to a firing stroke length for the endoscopic assembly; 
 an elongated shaft extending distally from the proximal hub; 
 an end effector assembly supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft; and 
 a drive assembly including an inner shaft slidably disposed within the proximal hub and the elongated shaft and defining proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft operably coupled to the end effector assembly such that movement of the inner shaft from an un-fired position to a fired position effects manipulation of the end effector assembly; and 
   a handle assembly, including:
 a housing; 
 a drive bar slidably supported within the housing; 
 a trigger pivotably connected to the housing and operably coupled to the drive bar such that movement of the trigger relative to the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position translates the drive bar from a proximal position to a distal position; 
 a ratchet pawl pivotably supported on the drive bar; and 
 a receiver assembly extending from the housing and configured to releasably engage an endoscopic assembly therein; 
   wherein, with the proximal hub releasably engaged within the receiver assembly, initial translation of the drive bar from the proximal position towards the distal position moves the ratchet pawl into engagement with the ratchet rack and the drive bar into abutment with the drive assembly such that further distal translation of the drive bar towards the distal position incrementally urges the inner shaft from the un-fired position towards the fired position as the ratchet pawl is incrementally advanced along the ratchet rack in successive engagement with the ratchet teeth thereof.   
     
     
         29 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 28 , wherein, prior to engagement of the ratchet pawl with the ratchet rack, the drive bar is permitted to return proximally, thereby returning the inner shaft towards the un-fired position. 
     
     
         30 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 28 , wherein, with the ratchet pawl engaged with the ratchet rack, the drive bar is inhibited from returning proximally, thereby inhibiting the inner shaft from returning towards the un-fired position. 
     
     
         31 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 28 , wherein, once the inner shaft reaches the fired position, the ratchet pawl clears the ratchet rack and is disengaged therefrom. 
     
     
         32 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 31 , wherein, with the ratchet pawl cleared and disengaged from the ratchet rack, the drive bar is permitted to return proximally, thereby returning the inner shaft towards the un-fired position. 
     
     
         33 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 28 , wherein translation of the drive bar from the proximal position to the distal position defines an actuation stroke length of the handle assembly, wherein translation of the inner shaft from the un-fired position to the fired position defines the firing stroke length of the endoscopic assembly that is smaller than the actuation stroke length of the handle assembly, and wherein translation of the plunger from the fired position to the end position enables completion of the actuation stroke of the handle assembly after completion of the firing stroke of the first endoscopic assembly. 
     
     
         34 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 28 , wherein the endoscopic assembly is a first endoscopic assembly, and further comprising:
 a second endoscopic assembly configured for non-ratcheting use, the second endoscopic assembly including:
 a proximal hub insertable into and releasably engagable within the receiver assembly; 
 an elongated shaft extending distally from the proximal hub; 
 an end effector assembly supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft; and 
 a drive assembly including an inner shaft slidably disposed within the proximal hub and the elongated shaft and defining proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the inner shaft operably coupled to the end effector assembly such that movement of the inner shaft from an un-fired position to a fired position effects manipulation of the end effector assembly, 
   wherein, with the proximal hub of the second endoscopic assembly releasably engaged within the receiver assembly, translation of the drive bar from the proximal position to the distal position moves the drive bar into abutment with the drive assembly to thereby continuously urge the inner shaft from the un-fired position towards the fired position.   
     
     
         35 . The reposable surgical instrument according to  claim 34 , wherein, with the proximal hub of the second endoscopic assembly releasably engaged within the receiver assembly. the ratchet pawl remains idle during translation of the drive bar between the proximal and distal positions. 
     
     
         36 . A surgical instrument system for applying surgical clips and configured for ratcheting use, the surgical instrument system comprising:
 (1) an actuation assembly including:
 a housing; 
 a drive bar slidably supported within the housing; 
 a trigger pivotably connected to the housing and operably coupled to the drive bar such that movement of the trigger relative to the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position translates the drive bar from a proximal position to a distal position; 
 a ratchet pawl pivotably supported on the drive bar; and 
 a receiver assembly extending from the housing and configured to releasably engage an endoscopic assembly therein; and 
   at least one of:   (2) a first endoscopic assembly for applying surgical clips and configured for ratcheting use, the first endoscopic assembly comprising:
 a first proximal hub insertable into and releasably engagable within a receiver assembly of the actuation assembly, the first proximal hub including a first ratchet rack disposed therein, the first ratchet rack defining a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein the first ratchet rack defines a length corresponding to a firing stroke length for the first endoscopic assembly; 
 a first elongated shaft extending distally from the first proximal hub; 
 a first end effector assembly supported at a distal end of the first elongated shaft; and 
 a first drive assembly including a first inner shaft slidably disposed within the first proximal hub and the first elongated shaft and defining proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first inner shaft operably coupled to the first end effector assembly such that movement of the first inner shaft from an un-fired position to a fired position effects manipulation of the first end effector assembly, 
 wherein, with the first proximal hub releasably engaged within the receiver assembly, initial translation of the first drive bar from the proximal position towards the distal position moves the ratchet pawl into engagement with the first ratchet rack and the first drive bar into abutment with the first drive assembly such that further distal translation of the first drive bar towards the distal position incrementally urges the first inner shaft from the un-fired position towards the fired position as the ratchet pawl is incrementally advanced along the first ratchet rack in successive engagement with the ratchet teeth thereof; or 
   (3) a second endoscopic assembly configured for non-ratcheting use, the second endoscopic assembly including:
 a second proximal hub insertable into and releasably engagable within the receiver assembly; 
 a second elongated shaft extending distally from the second proximal hub; 
 a second end effector assembly supported at a distal end of the second elongated shaft; and 
 a second drive assembly including a second inner shaft slidably disposed within the second proximal hub and the second elongated shaft and defining proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second inner shaft operably coupled to the second end effector assembly such that movement of the second inner shaft from an un-fired position to a fired position effects manipulation of the second end effector assembly, 
 wherein, with the second proximal hub releasably engaged within the receiver assembly, translation of the second drive bar from the proximal position to the distal position moves the second drive bar into abutment with the second drive assembly to thereby continuously urge the second inner shaft from the un-fired position towards the fired position. 
   
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument system according to  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a third endoscopic assembly for applying surgical clips and configured for ratcheting use, the third endoscopic assembly comprising:
 a third proximal hub insertable into and releasably engagable within a receiver assembly of the actuation assembly, the third proximal hub including a third ratchet rack disposed therein, the third ratchet rack defining a plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein the third ratchet rack defines a length corresponding to a firing stroke length for the third endoscopic assembly, wherein the firing stroke length for the third endoscopic assembly is different than the firing stroke length for the first endoscopic assembly; 
 a third elongated shaft extending distally from the third proximal hub; 
 a third end effector assembly supported at a distal end of the third elongated shaft; and 
 a third drive assembly including a third inner shaft slidably disposed within the third proximal hub and the third elongated shaft and defining proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the third inner shaft operably coupled to the third end effector assembly such that movement of the third inner shaft from an un-fired position to a fired position effects manipulation of the third end effector assembly, 
 wherein, with the third proximal hub releasably engaged within the receiver assembly, initial translation of the third drive bar from the proximal position towards the distal position moves the ratchet pawl into engagement with the third ratchet rack and the third drive bar into abutment with the third drive assembly such that further distal translation of the third drive bar towards the distal position incrementally urges the third inner shaft from the un-fired position towards the fired position as the ratchet pawl is incrementally advanced along the third ratchet rack in successive engagement with the ratchet teeth thereof. 
   
     
     
         38 . The surgical instrument system according to  claim 37 , wherein the first drive assembly further includes a first plunger operably engaged with the proximal end of the first inner shaft, wherein the first plunger is configured to:
 translate together with the first inner shaft from the un-fired position to the fired position; and   translate distally, independently of the first inner shaft and relative thereto, from the fired position to an end position.   
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument system according to  claim 38 , wherein the third drive assembly further includes a third plunger operably engaged with the proximal end of the third inner shaft, wherein the third plunger is configured to:
 translate together with the third inner shaft from the un-fired position to the fired position; and   translate distally, independently of the third inner shaft and relative thereto, from the fired position to an end position.   
     
     
         40 . The surgical instrument system according to  claim 39 , wherein each end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members, and wherein movement of the respective inner shaft of the respective drive assembly from the un-fired position to the fired position moves the first and second jaw members from an open position to a closed position, wherein the first and second jaw members are configured to receive a surgical clip therebetween, and wherein moving the first and second jaw members from the open position to the closed position forms the surgical clip loaded therein.