| abstract |
An improved clip feed system for a surgical ligating instrument of the type having first and second clip-clamping jaws at its forward end, a pair of handles to shift the jaws between open, clip-feeding and closed, clip-clamping positions, an elongated tube-like clip magazine containing a plurality of clips lying in a row, one behind the other, in the same plane and a feeder shoe to constantly urge the row of clips toward the forward end of the instrument and the forwardmost clip to a staging area in front of the magazine, a pusher track parallel to the clip magazine and extending to the forward ends of the jaws, and a pusher actuated by the handles between a retracted clip-receiving position when the handles and jaws are in their clip-clamping positions and an extended position locating a clip at the forward ends of the jaws when the handles and the jaws are in their clip-feeding positions. The improved clip-feed system comprises a plunger normally located in and biased to an unactuated position adjacent the staging area. The plunger is shiftable by the second jaw, as the second jaw moves to its clip-clamping position, to an actuated position wherein the plunger positively shifts the forwardmost clip from the staging area to the pusher track, the plunger returning to its unactuated position when the second jaw is shifted to its open, clip-feeding position. |