Endoscopic clip with positive lock

A clipping system for treating tissue, comprising:

• a cap configured to be mounted over a distal end of an endoscope, the cap extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending therethrough, a proximal portion of the cap configured to be mounted over the endoscope such that a distal portion of the cap extends distally past the distal end of the endoscope, the distal portion of the channel including opposing surfaces therealong defining a tapered portion tapering from the distal end of the cap toward a proximal end;
• a clip configured to be mounted within the cap, the clip including first and second jaws movably connected to one another via hinges, at least one of the hinges being biased to move the first and second jaws away from one another, the clip movable relative to the cap between an open configuration, in which the first and second jaw are separated from one another to receive tissue therebetween, and closed configurations, in which the first and second jaws are moved toward one another to grip tissue therebetween, when the first and second jaws are slid longitudinally along the tapered portion of the channel;
• and
• a control member extending from a distal end releasably coupled to the clip to a proximal end accessible via a user, the control member longitudinally movable relative to the cap to move the clip between the open and closed configurations.

A tissue clipping system, comprising:

• an endoscope extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a working channel extending therethrough;
• a cap extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending therethrough, the cap configured to be mounted over the distal end of the endoscope so a proximal portion of the cap extends over the endoscope, a distal portion of the cap extends distally past the distal end of the endoscope, and a channel of the cap is aligned with the working channel of the endoscope, an interior of the distal portion of the channel including opposing surfaces therealong defining a tapered portion tapering from the distal end of the cap toward a proximal end and a planar portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the tapered portion;
• a clip including first and second jaws movably connected to one another via hinges, at least one of the hinges being biased to move the first and second jaws away from one another, the clip movably mounted within the cap so that the clip is movable relative to the cap between an open configuration, in which the first and second jaw are separated from one another to receive tissue therebetween, and closed configurations, in which the first and second jaws are moved toward one another to grip tissue therebetween, when the first and second jaws are slid longitudinally along the tapered portion of the channel, the clip including a lock configured to lock the first and second jaws relative to one another toward the closed configuration when the clip is moved proximally along the planar portion;
• and
• a control member extending from a distal end releasably coupled to the clip, through the working channel of the endoscope to a proximal end accessible via a user, the control member longitudinally movable relative to the endoscope to move the clip between the open and closed configurations.

A method for treating tissue, comprising:

• inserting a clip to a target area in a body lumen via an endoscope, in an insertion configuration, the clip mounted to a distal end of an endoscope via a cap, a proximal end of the cap extending over the distal end of the endoscope and a distal portion of the cap extending distally of the distal end of the endoscope, the clip mounted within the distal portion of the cap so that the clip is within a field of view of the endoscope;
• moving the clip toward an open configuration, in which first and second jaws of the clip are separated from one another, by drawing a control member releasably coupled to the clip distally relative to the endoscope so that the first and second jaws slid distally along a tapered portion of a channel of the cap, which flares outward from a proximal end of the tapered portion toward the distal end of the cap;
• drawing the target tissue into the cap and between the first and second jaws;
• moving the clip toward a closed configuration, in which the first and second jaws of the clip are moved toward one another to grip the target tissue therebetween, by drawing the control member proximally relative to the endoscope so that the first and second jaws slide proximally along the tapered portion;
• and
• locking the clip toward the closed configuration by drawing the control member further proximally until the first and second jaws of the clip slide proximally along a planar portion of the channel extending proximally from the proximal end of the tapered portion, a distance between opposing surfaces of the planar portion being selected so that when the clip is slid proximally along the planar portion, the first and second jaws are moved toward one another via a distance causing a lock thereof to engage.