Bioabsorbable clips and applicator for tissue closure

Abstract

Surgical clips and surgical applicators used in performing rapid tissue closure in either minimally invasive surgeries or traditional open procedures are provided. In one example approach, a surgical clip comprises opposing sides extending from a top portion and terminating at tips positioned below the top portion. The resting position of the clip is its closed position, and in the closed position, the tips are set at a first distance apart. Each side has a cut-out (or hole or aperture) opposite one another. Each cut-out is fully surrounded by the side and does not extend to the top or tips. Each cut-out is configured to engage an inwardly turned hook at the end of a clip array or clip applicator such that the sides bend outwardly away from each other when pressure is applied on the top portion of the clip, thereby placing the clip in an open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical clip and surgical clip applicator system, comprising:
 (a) the surgical clip applicator comprising:   (i) a body having a first end and a second end;   (ii) the first end having first and second inwardly turned hooks; and   (iii) a push rod insertable into the second end, the push rod configured to apply pressure in the direction toward the first end, and the pressure being applied to a top portion of the surgical clip;   (b) the surgical clip, comprising:   (i) first and second opposing sides extending from the top portion;   (ii) the first side terminating at a first tip; and   (iii) the second side terminating at a second tip;   (c) the inwardly turned hooks of the clip applicator for respectively engaging the first and second sides;   (d) while the inwardly turned hooks engage the sides, and in response to the push rod applying the pressure to the top portion, the first and second tips move away from each other; and   (e) in response to the pressure from the push rod being released, the first and second tips move toward each other.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the first side having first hook engaging structure, the second side having second hook engaging structure, wherein the inwardly turned hooks of the clip applicator are for respectively engaging the first and second hook engaging structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , the first side having first hook engaging structure, the second side having second hook engaging structure, wherein the inwardly turned hooks of the clip applicator respectively directly engage the first and second hook engaging structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the first side having a first cut-out fully encompassed by the first side, the second side having a second cut-out fully encompassed by the second side. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , the first side having a first tab positioned at least generally near the first side, the second side having a second tab positioned at least generally near the second side. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , the first and second tips move away from each other such that the surgical clip reaches an open position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the first and second tips move toward each other such that the surgical clip reaches a closed resting position. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein while the first and second tips move away from each other, the first and second sides bend outwardly away from each other to reversibly deform the surgical clip from a closed resting position to an open position. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the surgical clip having a closed resting position in which the first and second tips have a first distance therebetween, and the surgical clip having an open position in which the first and second tips have a second distance therebetween, the second distance being longer than the first distance; and 
     
     
         10 . A surgical clip and surgical clip applicator system, comprising:
 (a) the surgical clip applicator comprising:
 (i) a body having a first end and a second end, the body defining a chamber between the first end and the second end, the chamber configured to house a plurality of the surgical clips arrayed in a stack of surgical clips with adjacent surgical clips in physical contact with one another; 
 (ii) the first end having first and second inwardly turned hooks; and 
 (iii) a push rod insertable into the second end, the push rod configured to apply pressure in the direction toward the first end, and the pressure being applied to a top portion of the surgical clip; 
   (b) the surgical clip, comprising:
 (i) first and second opposing sides extending from the top portion; 
 (ii) the first side terminating at a first tip; and 
 (iii) the second side terminating at a second tip; 
   (c) wherein when the stack of surgical clips is positioned within the chamber, the top portion of a top clip is configured to interface with the push rod of the clip applicator and the first and second opposing sides of a bottom clip are configured to engage the inwardly turned hooks of the clip applicator; and   (d) while the inwardly turned hooks engage the sides of the bottom clip, and in response to the push rod applying the pressure to the top portion of the top clip, the first and second tips of the bottom clip move away from each other; and   (e) in response to the pressure from the push rod being released, the first and second tips of the bottom clip move toward each other.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , the first side of each surgical clip having first hook engaging structure, the second side of each surgical clip having second hook engaging structure, wherein the inwardly turned hooks of the clip applicator are for respectively engaging the first and second hook engaging structure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , the first side of each surgical clip having first hook engaging structure, the second side of each surgical clip having second hook engaging structure, wherein the inwardly turned hooks of the clip applicator respectively directly engage the first and second hook engaging structure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , the first side of each surgical clip having a first cut-out fully encompassed by the first side, the second side of each surgical clip having a second cut-out fully encompassed by the second side. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , the first side of each surgical clip having a first tab positioned at least generally near the first side, the second side of each surgical clip having a second tab positioned at least generally near the second side. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , the first and second tips of the bottom clip move away from each other such that the surgical clip reaches an open position. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , the first and second tips of the bottom clip move toward each other such that the surgical clip reaches a closed resting position. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein while the first and second tips of the bottom clip move away from each other, the first and second sides of the bottom clip bend outwardly away from each other to reversibly deform the surgical clip from a closed resting position to an open position. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , each surgical clip having a closed resting position in which the first and second tips have a first distance therebetween, and each surgical clip having an open position in which the first and second tips have a second distance therebetween, the second distance being longer than the first distance; and