Pistols for setting surgical clamps

Abstract

A pistol for setting surgical clamps has a clamp magazine disposed at the distal end of a tubular endoscopic shaft, a feeding mechanism for the clamps, and forceps with an associated forceps closing mechanism for setting the clamps. The feeding mechanism and the forceps closing mechanism are operated using a hand grip of the pistol. The clamp magazine has a lower magazine part and an upper magazine part permanently disposed on the lower magazine part. The clamp magazine is insertable over guiding elements into the endoscopic shaft with the feeding mechanism and the clamps are contained in the clamp magazine. The forceps and the forceps closing mechanism are disposed below the clamp magazine with the forceps being exchangeable. The clamp magazine is open at an end facing the grip for introducing a push rod for a feeding slide with the feeding slide having a connecting piece into which the push rod is disposed and locked. An elastic latch locks the clamp magazine in the endoscopic shaft. The forceps closing mechanism has a leading incline engageable with a leading incline on the elastic latch to permit release of the elastic latch simultaneous with displacement of a filler piece on said forceps closing mechanism to permit release of the forceps.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A clamping apparatus for applying surgical clamps, comprising: 
       a pistol grip actuator having an operating grip movable from an intermediate position in a first direction for setting one of said surgical clamps and in a second direction for disassembly of said clamping apparatus;  
       a hollow shaft having a first end removably connected to said pistol grip actuator;  
       a removable magazine for holding said surgical clamps;  
       slide means for slidably receiving said removable magazine in said hollow shaft through an open second end of said hollow shaft;  
       said removable magazine having a channel containing said surgical clamps;  
       a forceps closing member slidably disposed in said hollow shaft beneath said removable magazine and responsive to movement of said operating grip;  
       said removable magazine having an elastic catch biased downward for engaging a catch member of said hollow shaft extending through said forceps closing member;  
       forceps means, slidably disposed in said forceps closing member, for receiving and compressing one of said surgical clamps by a cam action movement of said forceps closing member in response to actuation of said operating grip in said first direction;  
       said forceps means having a catch hook engageable with a stop member extending from said hollow shaft and through said forceps closing means to maintain said forceps means fixed relative to said hollow shaft permitting said cam action movement of said forceps closing means to compress said one of said surgical clamps;  
       said forceps closing means having a filler member disposed to maintain engagement of said catch hook with said stop member during said cam action movement of said forceps closing means;  
       said magazine having a feeding slide for advancing said surgical clamps toward said second end of said hollow shaft;  
       a push rod means extending from said pistol grip actuator into said hollow shaft responsive to movement of said operating grip in said first direction;  
       means for disengagably connecting said feeding slide with said push rod means to permit advancement of said surgical clamps in response to movement of said operating grip; and  
       said forceps closing means being responsive to movement of said operating grip in said second direction to effect displacement of said filler member from said catch hook to permit removal of said forceps means and displacement of said elastic latch from said catch member to allow removal of said magazine.  
     
     
       2. A clamping apparatus for applying surgical clamps, comprising: 
       
         a pistol grip actuator having an operating grip moveable from an intermediate position in a first direction for setting a surgical clamp;  
       
       
         a hollow shaft with a first end connected to said pistol grip actuator and having guiding elements and a catch member;  
       
       
         a magazine having a channel for containing surgical clamps and slidably received within said hollow shaft by said guiding elements through an open second end of said hollow shaft, said magazine having a feeding slide for advancing said surgical clamps toward said second end of said hollow shaft;  
       
       
         an elastic latch extending from said magazine and engaging said catch member for securing said magazine within said hollow shaft;  
       
       
         a forceps closing member slidably disposed within said hollow shaft and responsive to movement of said operating grip;  
       
       
         a push rod extending from said pistol grip actuator and received by said hollow shaft, said rod responsive to movement of said operating grip in said first direction and in operative connection with said feeding slide and said forceps closing member, and  
       
       
         a forceps means, slidably disposed in said forceps closing member for receiving and compressing one of said surgical clamps exterior of said hollow shaft by a cam action movement of said forceps closing member within said hollow shaft in response to actuation of said operating grip in said first direction. 
       
     
     
       3. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said pistol grip actuator is movable from an intermediate position in a second direction for disassembly of said clamping apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said forceps means further comprises forceps, said forceps being removable. 
     
     
       5. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said hollow shaft is removable. 
     
     
       6. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said magazine is removable. 
     
     
       7. The clamping apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said forceps further comprise a catch hook engageable with a stop member extending from said hollow shaft, said forceps means further comprising a filler member disposed to maintain engagement of said catch hook with said stop member, said stop member maintaining said forceps means fixed relative to said hollow shaft during cam action movement of said forceps closing member. 
     
     
       8. The clamping apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said forceps closing means is responsive to movement of said operating grip from an intermediate position in a second direction to effect displacement of said filler member relative to said catch hook to permit removal of said forceps and displacement of said elastic latch from said catch member to allow removal of said magazine. 
     
     
       9. The clamping apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a knob member attached to said pistol grip whereby depression of said knob allows movement of said operating grip in a second direction. 
     
     
       10. The clamping apparatus of  claim 4  whereby said forceps are rotatably adjustable by a twisting member of said first end of said hollow shaft. 
     
     
       11. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said pistol grip is equipped with a rinsing connection for disinfection and cleaning. 
     
     
       12. The clamping apparatus of  claim 6  whereby said magazine is equipped with a grip element at its surface to facilitate handling and replacement of said magazine. 
     
     
       13. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said magazine further comprises spring catches to prevent clamp movement in a direction toward said first end. 
     
     
       14. The clamping apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said magazine further comprises a guiding link to avoid undesired clamp movement in a direction toward said second end. 
     
     
       15. A clamping apparatus for applying surgical clamps, comprising: 
       
         a pistol grip actuator having an operating grip movable from an intermediate position in a first direction for setting one of said surgical clamps and in a second direction for disassembly of said clamping apparatus;  
       
       
         a hollow shaft having a first end removably connected to said pistol grip actuator;  
       
       
         a removable magazine having a channel for containing said surgical clamps;  
       
       
         a forceps closing member slidably disposed in said hollow shaft beneath said removable magazine and responsive to movement of said operating grip;  
       
       
         said magazine operatively engaging said hollow shaft;  
       
       
         forceps means, slidably disposed in said forceps closing member, for receiving and compressing one of said surgical clamps by a cam action movement of said forceps closing member in response to actuation of said operating grip in said first direction;  
       
       
         said forceps means having a catch hook engageable with a stop member extending from said hollow shaft and through said forceps closing means to maintain said forceps means fixed relative to said hollow shaft permitting said cam action movement of said forceps closing means to compress said one of said surgical clamps;  
       
       
         said forceps closing means having a filler member disposed to maintain engagement of said catch hook with said stop member during said cam action movement of said forceps closing means;  
       
       
         said magazine having a feeding slide for advancing said surgical clamps toward said second end of said hollow shaft;  
       
       
         a push rod means extending from said pistol grip actuator into said hollow shaft responsive to movement of said operating grip in said first direction;  
       
       
         means for disengagably connecting said feeding slide with said push rod means to permit advancement of said surgical clamps in response to movement of said operating grip; and  
       
       
         said forceps closing means being responsive to movement of said operating grip in said second direction to effect displacement of said filler member from said catch hook to permit removal of said forceps means and to effect disengagement of said magazine from said hollow shaft. 
       
     
     
       16. The clamping apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said hollow shaft includes a catch member and wherein said magazine includes an elastic latch biased downward for engaging said catch member of said hollow shaft. 
     
     
       17. The clamping apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said forceps closing means is responsive to a movement of said operating grip in said second direction to effect a displacement of said elastic latch from said catch member to allow for removal of said magazine from said hollow shaft.