Patent ID: 6607542
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical apparatus for occluding or encircling a body passageway, the apparatus comprising:(a) a housing holding at least one clip, wherein the at least one clip comprises an elongate element having first and second ends and an intermediate central portion, the at least one clip comprising a temperature-dependent shape memory material and is resiliently movable, wherein in response to a temperature increase from a first temperature to a second temperature, the at least one clip changes under an inherent biassing force from a first configuration in which the first and second ends of the at least one clip are spaced apart to allow the body passageway to pass therebetween, to a second configuration in which the at least one clip is deformed on itself so that the at least one clip grips or encircles the body passageway, wherein the at least one clip is held at the first temperature within the housing in the first configuration, wherein the housing has a port through which at least one clip can be released to occlude or encircle the body passageway; (b) a drive member disposed within the housing and movable therein to urge at least one clip within the housing towards the port thereof; and (c) a clip control device associated with the drive member and operable externally of the housing to control the movement of the at least one clip therein and expulsion of the at least one clip therefrom.