Plastic locking mechanism for clip

A clipping system for treating tissue, comprising:

• an applicator including a flexible elongate member extending from a proximal end to a distal end which, during use, is inserted into a living body to a location adjacent to target tissue to be clipped;
• a control member extending through the flexible elongate member, a distal end of the control member comprising a ball;
• a bushing coupled to a distal end of the flexible elongate member;
• and
• a clip including:
• a capsule releasably coupled to the bushing, the capsule including a channel extending therethrough;
• a pair of clip jaws comprising proximal ends slidably received within the channel for movement between an open configuration, in which distal ends of the clip jaws are separated from one another to receive tissue therebetween, and a closed configuration, in which the distal ends of the clip jaws are drawn toward one another to grip tissue;
• and
• a locking component slidably received within the channel, the locking component coupled to proximal portions of each clip jaw so that sliding movement of the locking component within the channel correspondingly moves the clip jaws to transition the clip jaws between the open configuration and the closed configuration, wherein proximal arms of the locking component are shaped with flexible longitudinal portions and cantilevered proximal ends, the proximal arms in a first state in which the cantilevered proximal ends are in contact with an interior surface of the capsule and the longitudinal portions flex radially inward, the locking component releasably coupled to the control member by trapping the ball of the control member in a gap between the proximal arms in the first state,
• wherein advancing the control member and the locking component distally to a first position relative to the capsule brings the clip jaws into the open configuration, withdrawing the control member and the locking component proximally from the first position to a second position relative to the capsule brings the clip jaws into the closed configuration, and withdrawing the control member and the locking component further proximally from the second position to a third position brings the cantilevered proximal ends of the locking component proximal to a proximal end of the capsule permitting the proximal arms to transition from the first state to a second state in which the proximal ends unflex to engage the proximal end of the capsule, lock the locking component in place with the clip jaws in the closed configuration and disengage the bushing from the capsule.

A clipping system for treating tissue, comprising:

• a control member extending through a proximal portion of the system, a distal end of the control member comprising a ball;
• and
• a clip including:
• a capsule releasably coupled to the proximal portion of the system, the capsule including a channel extending therethrough;
• a pair of clip jaws comprising proximal ends slidably received within the channel for movement between an open configuration, in which distal ends of the clip jaws are separated from one another to receive tissue therebetween, and a closed configuration, in which the distal ends of the clip jaws are drawn toward one another to grip tissue;
• and
• a locking component slidably received within the channel, the locking component coupled to proximal portions of each clip jaw so that sliding movement of the locking component within the channel correspondingly moves the clip jaws to transition the clip jaws between the open configuration and the closed configuration, wherein proximal arms of the locking component are shaped with flexible longitudinal portions and cantilevered proximal ends, the proximal arms in a first state in which the cantilevered proximal ends are in contact with an interior surface of the capsule and the flexible longitudinal portions flex radially inward, the locking component releasably coupled to the control member by trapping the ball of the control member in a gap between the proximal arms in the first state,
• wherein advancing the control member and the locking component distally to a first position relative to the capsule brings the clip jaws into the open configuration, withdrawing the control member and the locking component proximally from the first position to a second position relative to the capsule brings the clip jaws into the closed configuration, and withdrawing the control member and the locking component further proximally from the second position to a third position brings the cantilevered proximal ends of the locking component proximal to a proximal end of the capsule permitting the proximal arms to transition from the first state to a second state in which the proximal ends unflex to engage the proximal end of the capsule, lock the locking component in place with the clip jaws in the closed configuration and disengage the capsule from the proximal portion of the system.

A method for clipping tissue, comprising:

• inserting into a living body to a location adjacent to target tissue to be clipped a distal portion of a flexible elongate member while maintaining a proximal end of the flexible elongate member outside the living body, wherein a control member extends through an applicator and a bushing coupled to a distal end of the flexible elongate member;
• positioning a clip coupled to the bushing adjacent to the target tissue, the clip including a capsule releasably coupled to the bushing, the capsule including a channel extending therethrough, the clip including a pair of clip jaws comprising proximal ends slidably received within the channel for movement between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the clip including a locking component slidably received within the channel, the locking component coupled to proximal portions of each clip jaw so that sliding movement of the locking component within the channel correspondingly moves the clip jaws to transition the clip jaws between the open configuration and the closed configuration, wherein proximal arms of the locking component are shaped with flexible longitudinal portions and cantilevered proximal ends, the proximal arms in a first state in which the cantilevered proximal ends are in contact with an interior surface of the capsule and the flexible longitudinal portions flex radially inward, the locking component releasably coupled to the control member by trapping a ball of the control member in a gap between the proximal arms in the first state;
• advancing the control member and the locking component distally to a first position relative to the capsule bringing the clip jaws into the open configuration in which the distal ends of the clip jaws are separated from one another to receive tissue therebetween;
• withdrawing the control member and the locking component proximally from the first position to a second position relative to the capsule bringing the clip jaws into the closed configuration in which the distal ends of the clip jaws are drawn toward one another to grip the tissue;
• and
• withdrawing the control member and the locking component further proximally from the second position to a third position bringing the cantilevered proximal ends of the locking component proximal to a proximal end of the capsule permitting the proximal arms to transition from the first state to a second state in which the proximal ends unflex to engage the proximal end of the capsule, lock the locking component in place with the clip jaws in the closed configuration and disengage the bushing from the capsule.