Importance

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Abstract

A disposable instrument for applying surgical clips consisting of a clip applier and a cartridge mounted thereon. The instrument consists of a housing having a body portion and an elongated sleeve portion extending from the front of the body portion. Disposed for rectilinear movement within the sleeve and body portions is a jaw blade which terminates at its free end in a pair of opposed clinching jaws resiliently spaced apart. The jaw blade is slidably mounted in the housing and coacts with a portion of the housing structure for closing the clinching jaws together, the movement of the jaw blade defining a first plane. Positioned within the housing for arcuate movement are a pair of handles, the movement of the handles defining a second plane. A pair of links provides a force-transferring connection between the handles and the jaw blade. Each handle defines a force-imparting cylindrical surface the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the movement of the handles. Each of the links contains a cylindrical peripheral edge portion that defines a force-receiving surface, the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the movement of the jaw blade. In operation, when the handles are moved toward each other, the force-imparting surface bears against the force-receiving surface to facilitate movement of the jaw blade in order to accomplish a clinching of the clip disposed between the jaws. A clip cartridge is slidably affixed to the sleeve portion of the clip applier. The clip cartridge is movable towards and away from the clinching jaws of the clip applier so that a number of surgical clips can quickly and successively be supplied to the clinching jaws.

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First Claim