Surgical instrument with staple reinforcement clip

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a surgical instrument comprising a cutter and a stapler, wherein the cutter is configured to sever a portion of tissue;
• (b) a plurality of staples in communication with the stapler, wherein the stapler is configured to introduce the plurality of staples to a severed portion of tissue, wherein the stapler is configured to form a staple line with the plurality of staples;
• (c) a clip comprising:
• (i) a crown extending along an axis, wherein the crown has a pair of opposing ends,
• (ii) a pair of opposing, continuous legs extending transversely relative to the axis with a gap between each of the legs on each end of the crown, wherein the crown and the legs form a generally C-shaped portion, in cross-section along a plane that is perpendicular to the axis, of the clip, and
• (iii) teeth positioned at the end of each of the opposing legs, wherein the teeth extend transversely from a respective opposing leg of the C-shaped portion and are oriented towards each other,
• wherein the clip is configured to enclose a staple line, wherein the legs of the clip comprise a width sufficiently wide to overlay the width of the staple line, wherein the teeth are configured to anchor opposing portions of apposed layers of tissue, wherein the reinforcement clip is configured to only partially envelop tissue, wherein the crown comprises a deformable material;
• wherein the clip comprises a plurality of transversely formed notches spaced apart along the length thereof, wherein each of the notches extends along a portion of each of the continuous legs and the crown;
• and
• (d) a surgical applier, wherein the applier is in selective communication with the clip, wherein the applier is configured to deliver the clip to a surgical site, wherein the applier is further configured to clamp the clip, thereby anchoring the clip, wherein the applier is further configured to clamp the clip over the staple line.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a clip comprising:
• (i) a crown, wherein the crown has a pair of opposing ends,
• (ii) opposing, first and second continuous legs extending transversely relative to the crown with a gap between the legs on each end of the crown, and
• (iii) a clamping region, wherein the legs of the clip comprise a width sufficiently wide to overlay the width of the staple line,
• wherein the clip is configured to only partially envelop tissue, wherein the clamping region is configured to anchor tissue, wherein the crown comprises a deformable material, wherein the clip comprises a plurality of transversely formed notches spaced apart along the length thereof, wherein each of the notches extends along a portion of the first continuous leg, the crown, and a portion of the second continuous leg;
• and
• (b) a surgical applier, wherein the applier is in selective communication with the clip, wherein the applier is configured to deliver the clip to a surgical site, wherein the applier is further configured to clamp the clip, thereby anchoring the clip, wherein the applier is further configured to clamp the clip over a staple line.