Surgical instrument for applying ligating clips

Surgical instrument for applying C-shaped ligating clips in combination with C-shaped ligating clips, comprising:

• a cartridge adapted to be inserted into said surgical instrument;
• a plurality of C-shaped ligating clips arranged in the cartridge, each of the C-shaped ligating clips comprising two juxtaposed legs which are joined to each other by a bridge portion, the legs defining an open distal end opposite the bridge portion, each of the ligating clips being divided by a longitudinal slot into two juxtaposed portions joined to each other at distal free ends of the legs,
• said surgical instrument comprising:
• two juxtaposed clamping jaws with respective guiding surfaces facing each other for the legs of one of the ligating clips that lies against the guiding surfaces when the ligating clip is inserted between the clamping jaws, the two juxtaposed clamping jaws being adapted to close the open distal end of the ligating clip by advancing the distal free ends of the legs towards each other;
• and
• an inwardly protruding projection arranged on at least one of the guiding surfaces of the clamping jaws which, when the ligating clip is advanced along the guiding surfaces, elastically enters the longitudinal slot of the ligating clip.