Method and device for the endoscopic application of self-closing medical clips

A device for endoscopic application of self-closing medical clips in a body of a living being, comprising:

• a catheter tube having a distal end placeable in the body and a proximal end placeable outside the body;
• an operator at said proximal end;
• an actuator extending in said catheter tube from said operator in an area adjacent said distal end, having an actuating element with a pull cable movable longitudinally in said catheter tube and controlled by said operator, and having at least one control part with a distal end edge on a sleeve-shaped receiving part;
• and
• at least one clip adjacent to and directly engaging said distal end edge and having a part received in said actuating element and two adjacent legs, said legs having first kinks extending outwardly and increasing a distance between said legs in first areas of said legs and second kinks extending inwardly and forming a mutual support for said legs in second areas of said legs nearer to a distal leg end of said clip than said first area, but spaced from said distal leg end without said legs crossing one another, said clip being connected to said pull cable by a rear end crosspiece connecting said legs of said clip, said rear end crosspiece having two adjacent through holes through which said pull cable extends in a loop connecting an advancing strand extending from said operator to said rear end crosspiece to a retreating strand extending to said operator from said rear end crosspiece, said rear end crosspiece having a section between said through holes forming a predetermined breaking point fracturable by a pulling force of said pull cable via said loop thereof to detach said pull cable from said clip;
• whereby said legs are opened by said first kinks engaging said control part when said clip is inserted into said sleeve-shaped receiving part which converts an actuating force of said actuating element into an opening motion of said legs with said second areas engaging one another.

A self-closing medical clip, comprising:

• a crosspiece having two adjacent through holes therein and a predetermined breaking point extending between said through holes;
• first and second legs extending adjacent one another from said crosspiece to distal ends thereof and biased toward one another, said crosspiece extending between and directly connecting adjacent ends of said legs;
• a pull cable extending through said through holes in a loop connecting an advancing strand extending to said crosspiece and a retreating strand extending away from said crosspiece and laterally adjacent said advancing strand, said predetermined breaking point being fracturable by a pulling force of said pull cable via said loop to detach said cable from said crosspiece;
• first kinks in said legs extending outwardly and increasing a distance between said legs in first areas of said legs;
• and
• second kinks in said legs extending inwardly and forming a mutual support for said legs in second areas of said legs, said second areas being nearer said distal ends than said first areas but being spaced from said distal ends.

A method for endoscopic application of self-closing medical clips, comprising the steps of:

• placing a distal end of a catheter tube in a body of a living being to be treated;
• arranging at least one self-closing medical clip with relatively movable legs in the catheter tube adjacent the distal end by an operator located on a proximal end of the catheter tube, the clip having a first kink in a first area of each leg extending outwardly and increasing a distance between the legs and a second kink in a second area nearer a distal leg end of the clip than the first area but spaced from the distal leg end extending inwardly and forming a point of mutual support for the legs;
• pushing the clip out of the distal end;
• opening the clip by an actuator having an actuating element with a pull cable acting on the clip, being movable longitudinally in the catheter tube, being actuated by the operator and having a control part converting an actuating force of the actuating element into a motion opening the legs of the clip by pressing on each first kink inwardly to cause the legs to pivot at and about the mutual support such that leg portions between the second kinks and distal leg ends open, the clip being connected to the pull cable by a rear end crosspiece connecting the legs of the clip, the rear end crosspiece having two adjacent through holes through which the pull cable extends in a loop connecting an advancing strand extending from the operator to the rear end crosspiece to a retreating strand extending to the operator from the rear end crosspiece, the crosspiece having a section between the through holes forming a predetermined breaking point;
• and
• detaching the actuating element from the clip after opening of the clip to release and close the legs of the clip to apply the clip by the resiliency of the clip alone without attaching another member to the clip and detaching the pull cable from the clip by applying a pulling force on the pull cable to fracture the predetermined breaking point.