Apparatus and method for applying latchless surgical clips

An apparatus for endoscopic application of surgical clips to body tissue, which comprises:

• a) a frame configured and dimensioned for manual gripping,
• b) an endoscopic shaft of generally elongated configuration defining a longitudinal axis and connected to said frame and extending distally therefrom, said endoscopic shaft including a tubular housing defining an internal passage and having a distal end portion, and further including:
• (i) means for storing a plurality of surgical clips in the internal passage of said tubular housing and a plurality of surgical clips stored in said storing means, each of said surgical clips possessing a pair of legs which are movable between a first position wherein said legs are in relatively close proximity with each other, a second open position wherein said legs are relatively spaced apart from each other, and a third closed position wherein said legs are in relatively close engaged relation with tissue gripped therebetween, said legs being resiliently biased toward said first position, said surgical clips being stored in said storing means in said first position,
• (ii) clip opening means located in the internal passage of said tubular housing for moving said surgical clip legs from said first position to said second open position,
• (iii) clip advancing means movable within the interior passage of said tubular housing for individually distally advancing said surgical clips to a location wherein said clips are permitted to at least partially surround body tissue when said clip legs are in said second open position;
• and
• (iv) means positioned at said distal end portion of said tubular housing for moving said clip legs to said third position to effect closure of said surgical clips at least sufficient to grip the body tissue.

A disposable apparatus for endoscopic application of latchless surgical clips to body tissue, said clips each having a pair of legs normally biased toward a first position wherein said legs are in relatively close proximity with each other, and resiliently movable toward a second open position which comprises:

• a) a frame adapted to be gripped by hand;
• b) an elongated endoscopic section connected to said frame, said endoscopic section comprising a tubular housing with a distal end portion and further including:
• i) means for storing a plurality of latchless clips in the interior of said tubular housing;
• ii) a pair of jaws at the distal end portion of said tubular housing, said jaws being configured and dimensioned for reception and clamping of said latchless surgical clips;
• iii) means extending through the interior of said tubular housing for advancing said latchless surgical clips into said jaws;
• iv) means located in said tubular housing for causing said legs to move toward said open position to facilitate positioning of said clip about body tissue to be clipped;
• and
• v) means for moving said jaws toward each other for closing a clip positioned therebetween.

A method for endoscopically applying latchless surgical clips with an apparatus having a frame adapted to be gripped by hand and an endoscopic section connected to said frame, comprising:

• a) storing a plurality of said latchless surgical clips in said endoscopic section, each of Said latchless surgical clips having a pair of legs resiliently biased toward a closed position and movable away from each other to an open position;
• b) distally advancing one of said latchless surgical clips to a pair of jaws positioned at a distal end of said endoscopic section by clip advancing means positioned within said endoscopic section;
• c) positioning said latchless surgical clip adjacent body tissue to be clipped;
• d) closing said jaws about said latchless surgical clip while permitting said clip legs to move toward the closed position, and substantially simultaneously repositioning said clip advancing means to a position proximal of the next clip to be advanced;
• and
• e) releasably locking said clip advancing means in said proximal position until released to advance the next clip.