Surgical staple-clip and applier

Abstract

A surgical staple-clip including a clip component and a securing member is used in a wide range of surgical procedures. The staple-clip may be introduced to a surgical site in an un-assembled condition through a small port or trocar. An applier for the staple-clip comprising a pair of opposed jaw-like channels is provided to position and apply the clip component and the securing member. The clip component is positioned around a target tissue and is compressed or clamped upon the tissue using only the force required for a specific surgical procedure such as occlusion, ligation or fixation. When the clip component is properly applied, the securing member is urged forward and over the clip component to secure the staple-clip. The clip component may include traction enhancement features such as surface interruptions, bumps, valleys and ridges. With the staple-clip of the invention, the force required to constrict or occlude the tissue is separate from the force required to secure and maintain the staple-clip in position and, as a result, the body tissue is not over-compressed and nourishment to the body tissue is maintained. Other aspects of the invention include thumb actuated clip appliers for use in hand assisted laparoscopy (HAL). In one embodiment, a clip applier includes a handle and a thumb actuated mechanism that is used to slidably release clips onto a body tissue or vessel by sliding the thumb actuated mechanism forward and backward using only one hand. In another aspect of the invention, a two-stage clip is disclosed having a clip component and a staple component for securing the clip after it has been properly positioned.

Description

[0001] This is a non-provisional application claiming the priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 434,344, filed on Dec. 17, 2002, entitled “Surgical Staple-Clip and Applier,” which is fully incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention generally-relates to medical devices and, more specifically, to a staple-clip and applier adapted for use in surgical procedures. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art [0005] Clips and staples are widely used in many surgical procedures such as occlusion, ligation and fixation of various body tissues and vessels. Clips are generally U-shaped, open-ended wires that are positioned around a target tissue and clamped together to constrict or occlude the tissue. A clip applier is typically used for applying the clips. Clip appliers can be configured for applying a single clip or multiple clips in both open and minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgeries. The individual clips ar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] In one aspect of the invention, the clip component includes traction enhancement features including surface interruptions, bumps, valleys, ridges and the like. In another aspect of the invention, the clip component includes tissue-penetrating features similar to those of a staple. It is appreciated that with the staple-clip of the invention, the force required to constrict or occlude the tissue is separate from the force required to secure and maintain the staple-clip in position. That is, only the compressive force needed to perform a specific surgical procedure such as occlusion, ligation or fixation is applied to the body tissue, and the force normally required to secure and maintain a clip of the prior art is not applied since traction and security are supplied by the clip component and securing member of the staple-clip. As a result, the body tissue is not over-compressed and nourishment to the body tissue is maintained.

Problems solved by technology

It is not uncommon for laparoscopic surgeons to discover that even the largest clip available is undersized for a particular surgical procedure.

Moreover, clips will occasionally move about or slip off the tissue to which they have been applied.

This excessive compression may cause necrosis of tissue since nutrition to the tissue is interrupted or eliminated.

Surgical staples have proved to be effective, however, the staplers used for applying the staples are often bulky and require a very strong closing or compressing force, which is not ideal for minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgeries.

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