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Indicating system for clip applying deviceRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Instruments, Suture, Ligature, Elastic Band Or Clip Applier, Clip ApplierIndicating system for clip applying device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070191868, Indicating system for clip applying device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention is related to an indicating system, and more particularly relates to an indicating system for a medical clip applying device. [0003] 2. Background and Material Information [0004] Laparoscopic surgery is generally defined as minimally invasive surgery upon a patient, utilizing small or miniaturized medical devices by which body tissue is cut, removed or cauterized by small manipulable tools/devices through small incisions or openings within the patient's body. One such tool is a clip applier, which is used to grasp and/or crimp/seal tissue by the single hand of an operating surgeon., and is described in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0040759 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,131, the entire contents of both documents being expressly incorporated by reference herein. [0005] Prior art clip appliers have a patient-engaging distalmost end with a pair of squeezable jaws arranged on the distal end of an elongated channel or frame. The elongated channel is surrounded by an elongated tube, which elongated tube and elongated channel are secured at their respective proximalmost ends to the distal end of a pistol-like handle grip assembly. The handle grip assembly includes an arcuately movable squeezable trigger. By squeezing the trigger towards a housing portion of the handle grip assembly, a clip is advanced through the elongated channel and into the jaws from an elongated ladder-like clip supply cartridge disposed through the elongated housing. The actuating sequence includes the squeezing of the trigger to close the jaws and thus crimp the clip between the jaws, then releasing the trigger to advance a new clip into location between the jaws awaiting the next squeezing of the trigger. The elongated clip supply cartridge is fed into a receiving slot or port in the proximal end of the handle grip assembly. Once all of the clips have been discharged from the cartridge, the cartridge may be removed from the clip applier and discarded, and the clip applier may be sterilized and reused. [0006] It is also noted that during surgery, a surgeon may want to apply a clip to tissue, yet still leave a gap between the legs of the clip to allow passage of a blood vessel therethrough, thereby allowing blood to flow through the vessel unobstructed. When a surgeon partially squeezes the trigger, the jaws are partially closed and the clip may thus be applied in a partially crimped configuration. This partially-squeezed position is referred to as the cholangio zone. It is thus desirable to alert the surgeon as to when the clip applying device is in the cholangio zone. It is further desirable to alert the surgeon as to when the clip applying device is in fully squeezed position. [0007] However, while certain prior art clip appliers provide an audible and/or tactile indication as to when the trigger is fully squeezed, such prior art clip appliers do not provide any indication as to when a clip-applying device is in the cholangio zone. Further such prior art clip appliers do not provide any visual indication as to when the trigger is fully squeezed. Therefore, a need has arisen for a clip applier that adequately alert the surgeon as to when the trigger is in the cholangio zone and/or when the trigger is fully squeezed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention provides an indicating system for a clip applying device, the clip applying device having a squeezable trigger, a barrel having a plurality of serially-installed clips therein, and a pair of jaws operatively connected to the trigger and configured to crimp a clip of the plurality of serially-installed clips, the system including an indicator operatively connected to the trigger. The indicator provides a first signal when the trigger is moved to a first position to operate the jaws to partially crimp the clip, and the indicator provides a second signal when the trigger is moved to a second position to operate the jaws to generally fully crimp the clip. [0009] In an aspect of the invention the first signal and the second signal may each be visual signals. In a further aspect, wherein the first signal and the second signal may each be audible signals, and in another aspect the first signal and the second signal may each be tactile signals. [0010] Additionally, the indicator may provide a third visual signal when the trigger is at an unsqueezed position. [0011] In an additional aspect the system may also have a window located in the clip applying device, wherein the indicator includes a first region on which the first signal is displayed, and a second region on which the second signal is displayed, when the trigger is moved to the first position, the first region is moved within the window, and when the trigger is moved to the second position, the second region is moved within the window. [0012] Also, the clip applying device may further include a bearing disposed about the barrel and operatively connected to the trigger, the bearing configured to slide along a bearing path generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the barrel, and the bearing allows for movement of the indicator along an indicator path when the trigger is squeezed. [0013] In a further aspect, the system may have a trip switch pivotably disposed within the clip applying device, the trip switch having a first end and a second end, wherein the indicator is urged to move in along the indicator path in a first direction by an indicator spring, the first end of the trip switch is configured to engage and prevent the indicator from moving in the first direction to move the first region within the window, when the trigger is moved to the first position, and the bearing is configured to engage the second end of the trip switch to pivot and remove the trip switch from engagement with the indicator, to move the second region within the window, when the trigger is moved from the first position to the second position. [0014] Also, the indicator may include a first ratchet connected to the trigger, a first pawl configured to sequentially engage a first tooth and a second tooth of the first ratchet, wherein the first signal is emitted when the trigger is moved to the first position such that the first pawl engages the first tooth, and the second signal is emitted when the trigger is moved to the second position such that the first pawl engages the second tooth. [0015] Further, the indicator may include a second ratchet connected to the trigger, a second pawl configured to engage the second ratchet such that a third audible signal is emitted, when the trigger is moved from an unsqueezed position to the first position. [0016] The indicator may additionally include a first spring configured to urge the first pawl to engage the first ratchet, and a second spring configured to urge the second pawl to engage the second ratchet, the first and second springs having different spring forces such that the third audible signal is different from at least one of the first or the second audible signals. [0017] The indicator may yet further have a first ratchet connected to the trigger, a first pawl configured to sequentially engage a first tooth and a second tooth of the first ratchet, wherein the first signal is produced when the trigger is moved to the first position such that the first pawl engages the first tooth, and the second signal is produced when the trigger is moved to the second position such that the first pawl engages the second tooth. [0018] Further yet, the indicator may have a second ratchet connected to the trigger, a second pawl configured to engage the second ratchet such that a third tactile signal is emitted, when the trigger is moved from an unsqueezed position to the first position. Still yet, the indicator may have a first spring configured to urge the first pawl to engage the first ratchet, and a second spring configured to urge the second pawl to engage the second ratchet, the first and second springs having different spring forces such that the third tactile signal is different from at least one of the first or the second tactile signals. [0019] Another feature may provide an indicating system for a clip applying device, the clip applying device having a squeezable trigger, a barrel having a plurality of serially-installed clips therein, and a pair of jaws operatively connected to the trigger and configured to crimp a clip of the plurality of serially-installed clips, the system including an indicator operatively connected to the trigger, wherein the indicator provides a signal when the trigger is moved to a first position to operate the jaws to partially crimp the clip. [0020] A further feature may provide a medical instrument having a squeezable trigger, a barrel having configured to house a plurality of serially-installed clips therein, a pair of jaws operatively connected to the trigger and configured to crimp a clip of the plurality of serially-installed clips, and an indicator operatively connected to the trigger, wherein the indicator provides a signal when the trigger is moved to a first position to operate the jaws to partially crimp the clip. Also, the signal of the instrument may be audible, visual and/or tactile. [0021] The instrument may further have a window, and a region on which the signal is displayed when the trigger is moved to the first position, the region is moved within the window. [0022] In another aspect, the instrument may include a ratchet connected to the trigger, and a pawl configured to engage a tooth of the ratchet, wherein the signal is emitted when the trigger is moved to the first position such that the pawl engages the tooth. Continue reading about Indicating system for clip applying device... Full patent description for Indicating system for clip applying device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Indicating system for clip applying device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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