Surgical clip applying methods and apparatus, and clips and clips train for use therein

Claim 3

Surgical clips for use in a device for applying a plurality of surgical clips to body tissue one at a time in succession, each surgical clip comprising: first and second coupling means for allowing a plurality of clips to be intercoupled in a linear array with the first coupling means of each clip releasably coupling the clip to the second coupling means of the preceding clip in the array so that each clip in the array is pulled along by the preceding clip when the preceding clip moves in a direction away from the clip.

Claim 4

Surgical clips for use in a device for applying a plurality of surgical clips to body tissue one at a time in succession, each surgical clip comprising: first and second coupling means for allowing a plurality of clips to be intercoupled in a linear array with the first coupling means of each clip releasably coupling the clip to the second coupling means of the preceding clip in the array so that each clip in the array is pulled along by the preceding clip when the preceding clip moves in a direction away from the clip.

Claim 5

An improved surgical clip of the type having a base and two arms, each arm being connected adjacent one end to the base, the other ends of the arms being initially free and laterally spaced from one another, the improvement comprising means for interlocking the initially free ends of the arms of the clip when the free ends are brought together, the means for interlocking including first and second latching members adjacent the free end of each arm, the first latching member on the first arm overlapping and interlocking with the first latching member on the second arm, and the second latching member on the first arm overlapping and interlocking with the second latching member on the second arm, the first and second latching members on the first arm being respectively above and below the first and second latching elements on the second arm when the latching elements are overlapped.

Claim 6

An improved surgical clip of the type having a base and two arms, each arm being connected adjacent one end to the base, the other ends of the arms being initially free and laterally spaced from one another, the improvement comprising means for interlocking the initially free ends of the arms of the clip when the free ends are brought together, the means for interlocking including first and second latching members adjacent the free end of each arm, the first latching member on the first arm overlapping and interlocking with the first latching member on the second arm, and the second latching member on the first arm overlapping and interlocking with the second latching member on the second arm, the first and second latching members on the first arm being respectively above and below the first and second latching elements on the second arm when the latching elements are overlapped.

Claim 7

Apparatus for applying a plurality of surgical clips to body tissue one at a time in succession comprising: a plurality of surgical clips in a linear array, each clip including first and second coupling means for respectively releasably coupling the clip to the second coupling means of the preceding clip and to the first coupling means of the succeeding clip in the array so that each clip pulls along the succeeding clip when advanced in the direction away from the succeeding clip; third means disposed adjacent to, but just beyond, the forwardmost clip in the array for closing a clip pushed into the third means; and fourth means for sequentially engaging the forwardmost clip, pushing the forwardmost clip toward the third means, and uncoupling the forwardmost clip from the succeeding clip as the forwardmost clip enters the third means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for applying a plurality of surgical clips to body tissue one at a time in succession comprising: a plurality of surgical clips in a linear array, each clip including first and second coupling means for respectively releasably coupling the clip to the second coupling means of the preceding clip and to the first coupling means of the succeeding clip in the array so that each clip pulls along the succeeding clip when advanced in the direction away from the succeeding clip; third means disposed adjacent to, but just beyond, the forwardmost clip in the array for closing a clip pushed into the third means; and fourth means for sequentially engaging the forwardmost clip, pushing the forwardmost clip toward the third means, and uncoupling the forwardmost clip from the succeeding clip as the forwardmost clip enters the third means.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined in claim 4 further comprising means for limiting the motion of the portion of the fourth means which engages the forwardmost clip between (1) a rearwardmost position in which the portion of the fourth means which engages the forwardmost clip is between the forwardmost clip and the next-to-forwardmost clip in the array at the location of the array when the previously forwardmost clip was uncoupled from the array, and (2) a forwardmost position in which the forwardmost clip is fully pushed into the third means.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the third means includes a pair of laterally spaced, relatively movable jaws for receiving and closing the forwardmost clip, and wherein the fourth means includes fifth means for actuating the third means to move the jaws toward one another after uncoupling the forwardmost clip from the succeeding clip.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the fifth means comprises: cam surfaces mounted on the jaw members; and a sleeve member mounted for reciprocal motion toward and away from the jaws for engaging the cam surfaces and thereby moving the jaws toward one another when the sleeve member is reciprocated toward the jaws.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein each clip comprises a base adjacent the succeeding clip and two arms attached to opposite ends of the base and extending in the direction of the preceding clip, the ends of the arms remote from the base being resiliently biased apart.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the clips are made of plastic material and wherein the end portions of the arms remote from the base include seventh means for causing the end portions of the arms to interlock when the clip is closed by the third means.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein the clips are made of a biologically absorbable material.