Patent ID: 9549730
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A device for successively deploying a plurality of preloaded suture clips onto sutures, comprising: a proximal handle portion comprising an actuation mechanism; a generally tubular main shaft having an inner lumen extending at least partially through the main shaft, a proximal end portion coupled to the actuation mechanism, and a distal end portion having a distal opening in communication with the inner lumen, wherein the main shaft holds a plurality of annular suture clips preloaded around the distal end portion of the main shaft, and wherein the main shaft is configured to receive at least one suture extending through the distal opening and into the inner lumen; and a clip guide positioned at least partially around the main shaft and coupled to the actuation mechanism independently of the main shaft, the clip guide configured to be positioned at least partially around the suture clips when the suture clips are loaded on the distal end portion of the main shaft; wherein the actuation mechanism causes the main shaft to move axially relative to the handle portion, the clip guide, and the suture clips, such that a distal-most one of the suture clips slides off of a distal end of the main shaft and onto one or more sutures extending through the distal opening of the main shaft; and wherein, after the distal-most one of the suture clips is deployed onto a suture, the actuation mechanism causes the main shaft and a remaining portion of the suture clips to move distally relative to the handle portion and the clip guide such that a distal-most one of the remaining portion of the suture clips is ready to be successively deployed.