Apparatus and Method for Compressing Body Tissue

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a surgical clip to a surgical site within a patient's body to compress body tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment for the system of the present invention, the system includes an endoscopic device that has an endoscope cap disposed on a distal end of the endoscopic device. A surgical clip is removably disposed on an outside surface of the endoscope cap. A deployment device is associated with the surgical clip for deploying the surgical clip from the endoscope cap to the body tissue that is to be compressed. The surgical clip can be a deformable clip that is deployed in a non deformed configuration, and is then deformed so as to apply compression on selected tissue. The surgical clip can be a multi legged clip, having a plurality of legs that can be locked in a closed position to apply compression to body tissue.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A hemostatic clip adapted to compress tissue, comprising:
 a ring portion adapted to be releasably mounted around a distal end of an endoscope;   a plurality of legs attached to the ring portion, each of the legs being movable between an open position and a closed position to compress tissue; and   a plurality of hinges, each of the hinges connecting a corresponding one of the legs to the ring portion.   
     
     
         41 . The clip according to  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the hinges is a living hinge. 
     
     
         42 . The clip according to  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the hinges is a pin and slot hinge, the pin extending from one of the ring portion and the leg connected to the hinge. 
     
     
         43 . The clip according to  claim 40 , further comprising a catch to mechanically retain the legs in the open position. 
     
     
         44 . The clip according to  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the hinges is a four bar mechanism. 
     
     
         45 . The clip according to  claim 40 , further comprising resilient devices adapted to urge the legs in one of the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         46 . The clip according to  claim 40 , wherein the ring includes shaped notches that cooperate with one end of the legs to form a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         47 . A device for compressing tissue, comprising:
 an endoscope; and   a clip including a ring portion releasably mounted around a distal end of the endoscope and a plurality of legs attached to the ring portion, each of the legs being movable between an open position and a closed position to compress tissue, the plurality of legs attached to the ring portion via a plurality of hinges, each of the hinges connecting a corresponding one of the legs to the ring portion.   
     
     
         48 . The device according to  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the hinges is a living hinge. 
     
     
         49 . The device according to  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the hinges is a pin and slot hinge, the pin extending from one of the ring portion and the leg connected to the hinge. 
     
     
         50 . The device according to  claim 47 , further comprising a catch to mechanically retain the legs in the open position. 
     
     
         51 . The device according to  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the hinges is a four bar mechanism. 
     
     
         52 . The device according to  claim 47 , further comprising resilient devices adapted to urge the legs in one of the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         53 . The device according to  claim 47 , wherein the ring includes shaped notches that cooperate with one end of the legs to form a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         54 . The device according to  claim 47 , further comprising a string attached to distal tips of the legs and extending to a proximal portion of the endoscope such that pulling the string proximally relative to the endoscope moves the legs from the open position to the distal position. 
     
     
         55 . The device according to  claim 47 , further comprising a rack and pinion mechanism in contact with the legs to move the legs from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         56 . The device according to  claim 47 , further comprising a sheath slidably mounted over a distal portion of the endoscope and movable between a proximal configuration in which the sheath is proximal of the legs to a distal configuration in which the sheath extends over the legs to move the legs from the open position to the closed position.