Multiple Clip Deployment Magazine

Abstract

An apparatus for deployment of multiple hemostatic clips, comprises a shaft connected to a handle and a control linkage operatively connected to the handle in combination with a magazine disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the magazine containing a plurality of clips arranged in a chain rotatable within the magazine, wherein a proximal-most one of the clips is coupled to the control linkage, a distal portion of the magazine being contoured to permit opening of a distal-most one of the clips during a distal stroke of the control linkage, and to assist closing and locking of the distal-most clip during a proximal stroke of the control linkage, the magazine including an expanded chamber sized to allow opening in any rotational orientation of a next clip located immediately proximal to the distal-most clip to a degree sufficient to disengage the distal-most clip. A method for deploying multiple hemostatic clips, comprises positioning a distal end of a magazine containing a clip chain over selected target tissue and actuating a control link of the magazine in a distal stroke to open and distally translate a distal-most clip of the clip chain in combination with orienting the open distal-most clip in a desired orientation to grasp the target tissue and actuating the control link in a proximal stroke to close and lock the distal-most clip over the target tissue. The control link is further actuated in the proximal stroke to move a next clip immediately proximal to the distal-most clip into an expanded portion of the magazine sized to allow the next clip to open to a degree sufficient to release the distal-most clip regardless of a circumferential orientation of the next clip.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A multi-clip magazine, comprising:
 a clip chain comprising a distal-most hemostatic clip and one or more additional hemostatic clips arranged in a chain, each of the distal-most clip and the additional clips comprising two clip arms biased toward an open configuration; and   an elongated shell extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end comprising a central lumen extending along the longitudinal axis, the central lumen comprising:
 a distal portion having a clip deployment opening and surface features adapted to prevent passing of a next clip immediately proximal to the distal-most clip before the distal-most clip has been released from the clip chain, 
 a proximal portion having a cross-sectional diameter sized and shaped to push the arms of each of the additional clips toward each other such that the arms clamp over a proximal portion of an immediately distal clip in the clip chain, and 
 an expanded portion between the distal and proximal portions, the expanded portion defining a chamber expanding radially outward from the longitudinal axis than the distal and proximal portions to permit the next clip to open and release the distal-most clip. 
   
     
     
         33 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the distal-most clip is releasable from the clip chain regardless of a rotational orientation of the next clip. 
     
     
         34 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the expanded portion is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         35 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the expanded portion extends 360 degrees around a circumferences of the central lumen. 
     
     
         36 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the central lumen is sized and shaped to allow free rotation of the clip chain about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         37 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the distal portion is further adapted to lock the distal-most clip by positioning a locking ring around the distal-most clip when it is released. 
     
     
         38 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 37 , wherein the distal portion comprises an anti-pull back tab configured to hold the locking ring when the distal-most clip extend out of the clip deployment opening, and to subsequently position the locking ring around the distal-most clip when the distal-most clip is retracted proximally. 
     
     
         39 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the proximal portion is adapted to receive a control link operatively connectable to the clip chain. 
     
     
         40 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the surface features of the distal portion comprise a reduced cross-section portion. 
     
     
         41 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the reduced cross-section portion comprises a protrusion in an interior surface of the central lumen extending toward the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         42 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the elongated shell is adapted for insertion into a patient through an endoscope. 
     
     
         43 . The multi-clip magazine of  claim 32 , wherein the elongated shell is substantially cylindrical.