Surgical clip applier with parallel closure jaws

Abstract

An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes a housing, jaws that include opposed first and second jaw members, each comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other, the first jaw member defining a first inner surface and the second jaw member defining a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface, and an actuation mechanism arranged within the housing and operable to move the jaws between open and closed positions. The actuation mechanism includes an actuation plate longitudinally movable within the housing, and a transition pin extending from the actuation plate and received within corresponding slots defined in each jaw member. Linear movement of the actuation plate drives the transition pin through the corresponding slots and thereby moves the jaws between the open and closed positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An end effector for a surgical clip applier, comprising:
 a housing;   jaws that include opposed first and second jaw members, each jaw member comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other, the first jaw member defining a first inner surface and the second jaw member defining a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface; and   an actuation mechanism arranged within the housing and operable to move the jaws between an open position and a closed position, the actuation mechanism including:
 an actuation plate longitudinally movable within the housing; and 
 a transition pin extending from the actuation plate and received within corresponding slots defined in each jaw member, 
   wherein linear movement of the actuation plate drives the transition pin through the corresponding slots and thereby moves the jaws between the open and closed positions, and   wherein the first and second inner surfaces remain substantially parallel to each other as the jaws move between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding slots in each jaw member provide an angled profile extending longitudinally along each jaw member, and
 wherein linear movement of the actuation plate correspondingly moves the transition pin to slidingly engage the angled profile and thereby urges the first and second jaw members laterally with respect to each other.   
     
     
         3 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaw members are entirely separate from each other from proximal to distal ends. 
     
     
         4 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the transition pin extends orthogonally from the actuation plate. 
     
     
         5 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the transition pin comprises an integral extension of the actuation plate. 
     
     
         6 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the transition pin is coupled to the actuation plate. 
     
     
         7 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the jaws are made of metal, plastic, or metal overmolded with plastic, and wherein the jaws are manufactured by one of machining, stamping, molding and an additive manufacturing process. 
     
     
         8 . The end effector of  claim 1 , further comprising a groove defined in each of the first and second inner surfaces for receiving legs of a surgical clip. 
     
     
         9 . The end effector of  claim 1 , wherein the jaws extend out a distal end of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical clip applier, comprising:
 a drive housing;   an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing; and   an end effector arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including:
 a housing; 
 jaws that include opposed first and second jaw members, each jaw member comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other, the first jaw member defining a first inner surface and the second jaw member defining a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface; and 
 an actuation mechanism arranged within the housing and operable to move the jaws between an open position and a closed position, the actuation mechanism including an actuation plate longitudinally movable within the housing, and a transition pin extending from the actuation plate and received within corresponding slots defined in each jaw member, 
   wherein linear movement of the actuation plate drives the transition pin through the corresponding slots and thereby moves the jaws between the open and closed positions, and   wherein the first and second inner surfaces remain substantially parallel to each other as the jaws move between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         11 . The surgical clip applier of  claim 10 , further comprising an articulable wrist joint interposing the end effector and the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical clip applier of  claim 10 , wherein the corresponding slots in each jaw member provide an angled profile extending longitudinally along each jaw member, and
 wherein linear movement of the actuation plate correspondingly moves the transition pin to slidingly engage the angled profile and thereby urges the first and second jaw members laterally with respect to each other.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical clip applier of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second jaw members are entirely separate from each other from proximal to distal ends. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical clip applier of  claim 10 , wherein the transition pin extends orthogonally from the actuation plate. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical clip applier of  claim 10 , wherein the jaws are made of metal, plastic, or metal overmolded with plastic, and wherein the jaws are manufactured by one of machining, stamping, molding and an additive manufacturing process. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical clip applier of  claim 10 , further comprising a groove defined in each of the first and second inner surfaces for receiving legs of a surgical clip. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a surgical clip applier, comprising:
 positioning the surgical clip applier adjacent a patient for operation, the surgical clip applier including a drive housing, an elongate shaft that extends from the drive housing, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the end effector including:
 a housing; and 
 jaws that include opposed first and second jaw members, each jaw member comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other, the first jaw member defining a first inner surface and the second jaw member defining a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface; 
   actuating an actuation mechanism arranged within the housing to move the first and second jaw members from an open position to a closed position, the actuation mechanism including an actuation plate longitudinally movable within the housing, and a transition pin extending from the actuation plate and received within corresponding slots defined in each jaw member;   driving the transition pin through the corresponding slots as the actuation plate moves longitudinally and thereby moving the jaws between the open and closed positions;   maintaining the first and second inner surfaces substantially parallel to each other as the first and second jaw members move to the closed position; and   crimping a surgical clip disposed between the first and second jaw members.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein actuating the surgical clip applier is preceded by:
 distally advancing the surgical clip in a same plane as the jaw members and thereby traversing a space that separates the first and second jaw members; and   positioning the surgical clip between the first and second inner surfaces.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the corresponding slots in each jaw member provide an angled profile extending longitudinally along each jaw member, and wherein actuating the actuation mechanism comprises:
 moving the actuation plate linearly within the housing;   slidingly engaging the transition pin within the angled profile of each jaw member and thereby urging the first and second jaw members laterally with respect to each other.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second jaw members are entirely separate from each other from proximal to distal ends.