Surgical clip applier having clip chamber with clip chain

A method of deploying a surgical clip, comprising:

• a) inserting to a target site in a body a clip chamber including a plurality of surgical clips connected in a clip chain which includes a distalmost clip and a next most distal clip, said clip chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end defining a distal opening;
• b) first moving the clip chain distally relative to said distal opening;
• c) second moving at least a portion of the clip chain proximally relative to said distal opening, at least one of said first and second moving operating to release the distalmost clip from the clip chamber through said distal opening;
• and
• d) moving the clip chamber to a second target location to deploy the next most distal clip over a second target portion of tissue,
• wherein, said first moving of b) includes moving a flexible control wire coupled to said clip chain distally relative to said distal opening, said second moving of c) includes moving the control wire proximally relative to said distal opening, and said control wire is provided with structure adapted to apply a distal compressive force to said clip chain during the first moving of b), and a proximal tensile force to said clip chain during the second moving of c), and
• wherein, said control wire and said clip chamber extend parallel to each other.

An apparatus for applying clips to tissue, comprising:

• a) a clip chamber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end defining a distal opening;
• b) a plurality of clips within said chamber, said clips coupled to one another in a clip chain with a proximalmost clip engaging an adjacent relatively distal clip;
• c) a control member coupled to said proximalmost clip such that relatively distal movement of said control member relative to said distal opening results in distal longitudinal translation of said clip chain relative to said distal opening and relatively proximal movement of said control member relative to said distal opening results in proximal longitudinal translation of said clip chain relative to said distal opening;
• d) a proximal handle assembly coupled to said control member for moving said control member proximally and distally relative to said clip chamber;
• and
• e) a flexible elongate tubular member disposed between and coupling said clip chamber and said handle assembly to each other, said tubular member having a distal end,
• wherein, said control member is a flexible wire longitudinally extending parallel to and through said tubular member from said proximal handle assembly to said clip chamber, and a distal end of said control member is provided with structure adapted to apply a distal compressive force to said clip chain sufficient to move said clip chain distally relative to said distal opening when said control member is moved distally relative to said distal opening, and a proximal tensile force to said clip chain sufficient to move said clip chain proximally relative to said distal opening when said control member is moved proximally relative to said distal opening.