Clip Dispenser and Method for Dispensing and Applying Clips to Tissue

Abstract

A clip dispensing system, clip dispenser, and method is described herein for dispensing and applying clips to tissue during minimally invasive surgery. The system may include a grasping surgical instrument having a shaft and a grasping tool, and a clip dispenser assembled to the shaft. The clip dispenser includes an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube and a plurality of clips housed between the inner tube and the outer tube. The clips include a first jaw, an opposing second jaw, and a cavity between the first jaw and the second jaw. The cavity permits the clip to slide along the length of the shaft and over the grasping tool of the grasping surgical instrument to be clamped onto a grasped piece of tissue with the aid of a second grasping instrument.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.