BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments such as, for example, surgical clip appliers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to latch assemblies for surgical clip appliers, and surgical clip appliers including the same.

Description of Related Art

Surgical clip appliers are known in the art and are used for a number of distinct and useful surgical procedures. In the case of a laparoscopic surgical procedure, access to the interior of an abdomen is achieved through narrow tubes or cannulas inserted through a small entrance incision in the skin. Minimally invasive procedures performed elsewhere in the body are often generally referred to as endoscopic procedures.

Endoscopic surgical clip appliers having various sizes (e.g., diameters), that are configured to apply a variety of diverse surgical clips, are also known in the art, and are capable of applying a single or multiple surgical clips during an entry to the body cavity. Such surgical clips are typically fabricated from a biocompatible material and are usually compressed over tissue. Once applied to tissue, the compressed surgical clip terminates the flow of fluid therethrough.

SUMMARY

As detailed herein and shown in the drawing figures, as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on a surgical instrument, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the apparatus or component thereof which is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end of the apparatus or component thereof which is further away from the user. Further, to the extent consistent, any or all of the aspects and features detailed herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects and features detailed herein.

Provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is a latch assembly for a surgical instrument including a lever having a distal engagement section, an intermediate section, and a proximal manipulatable section. The proximal manipulatable section includes an exterior surface including lateral sides, a side wall depending from the exterior surface along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about a proximal end of the exterior surface, a lip extending from the side wall to define a shelf extending outwardly from the side wall along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about the proximal end of the exterior surface, and a proximal stop disposed on the shelf at the proximal end of the exterior surface and extending towards the exterior surface.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the side wall extends in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the exterior surface and/or the lip extends in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the side wall.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the proximal stop defines a stop surface and first and second angled guide surfaces disposed on either side of the stop surface.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the latch assembly further includes a pivot pin pivotably supporting the intermediate section of the lever thereon and a biasing member operably coupled to the pivot pin.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the lever is a monolithic piece of metal.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the exterior surface defines a dimple therein configured to receive a finger of a user.

A handle assembly of a surgical instrument provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a housing defining a cut-out, a drive assembly disposed within the housing, a trigger pivotably connected to the housing, and a latch assembly. The trigger is operably associated with the drive assembly and movable relative to the housing from an unactuated position to an actuated position to actuate the drive assembly. The latch assembly is operably coupled to the housing and includes a lever movable relative to the housing between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The lever includes a distal engagement section configured to releasably engage an elongated assembly inserted into the housing, an intermediate section movably coupled to the housing to permit movement of the lever relative thereto, and a proximal manipulatable section.

The proximal manipulatable section of the lever includes an exterior surface substantially fully occupying the cut-out of the housing in the engaged position of the lever, the exterior surface including lateral sides, a side wall depending from the exterior surface along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about a proximal end of the exterior surface, a lip, and a proximal stop. The lip extends from the side wall to define a shelf extending outwardly from the side wall along the lateral sides of the exterior surface and about the proximal end of the exterior surface. In the engaged position of the lever, the shelf extends outwardly beyond the cut-out of the housing to at least partially overlap an interior surface of the housing. The proximal stop is disposed on the shelf at the proximal end of the exterior surface and extends towards the exterior surface. In the engaged position of the lever, the proximal stop is configured to abut a portion of the interior surface of the housing.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the side wall extends in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the exterior surface and/or the lip extends in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the side wall.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the proximal stop defines a stop surface configured to abut the portion of the interior surface of the housing in the engaged position of the lever. The proximal stop may additionally or alternatively defines first and second angled guide surfaces configured to contact the portion of the interior surface of the housing to guide the exterior surface into alignment with the cut-out upon movement of the lever to the engaged position.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the latch assembly further includes a pivot pin pivotably coupling the intermediate section of the lever with the housing to permit pivoting of the lever between the engaged and disengaged positions, and a biasing member operably coupled to the pivot pin and configured to bias the latch towards the engaged position.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the housing is formed from a first material and the lever is formed from a second, different material.

A surgical instrument provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes an elongated assembly including a proximal hub, a shaft extending distally from the proximal hub, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft. The surgical instrument further includes a handle assembly according to any of the aspects detailed above or otherwise herein. The latch assembly of the handle assembly is configured to releasably engage the elongated assembly with the handle assembly.

