The disclosure describes a clip which has particular application, for example, in the medical arts. The clip comprises a hollow, cylindrical hub which includes first and second hub sections defined by a plane transverse to the axis of the hub. A pin joins the first and second hub sections and allows them to rotate independently about the pin. First and second legs are joined to the first and second hub sections, respectively, each leg including a clamping surface. The clamping surface on the first leg opposes the clamping surface on the second leg. A spring mechanism biases the clamping surfaces together and includes first and second ends. A mechanism disposed on the first and second hub sections engages the first and second ends, respectively, of the spring, and a lever coupled to the first and second hub sections spreads the clamping surfaces apart.

Technical Field: 
The present invention relates to a clip. In particular it relates to a clip 
which can be used, for example, in the medical arts. 
Background Art: 
Typically, a clip has two narrow projecting legs with opposed clamping 
surfaces and a spring that forces the clamping surfaces together. Such 
clips are widely used, for example, in the medical arts for clamping blood 
vessels and ducts. For example, it is common surgical practice to isolate 
an aneurysm, i.e., a weak, ballooned section of a blood vessel, by placing 
a clip across the neck of the ballooned aneurysm in order to isolate the 
aneurysm from the vessel on which it arose. 
While previous clips have proven very effective for clamping off blood 
vessels and ducts, they, nonetheless, have several undesirable 
characteristics. For example, frequently the spring of the clip is 
partially or even totally exposed so that when the clip is placed within 
the body, tissue surrounding the clip can become enmeshed within the 
spring or between the spring and the legs of the clip. Removing the clip 
is then difficult, time consuming and dangerous since the tissue must be 
disentangled from the clip to avoid tearing it. 
Another problem with previous clips is that the ends of the spring 
frequently move back and forth against the legs as the clamping surfaces 
are opened and closed. This movement between the ends of the spring and 
the legs can gall the legs, causing an uneven closing pressure. In some 
circumstances, it might even gouge small fragments from the legs which can 
contaminate a wound if they fall from the clip. 
Disclosure Of The Invention: 
The present invention provides an improved clip, e.g., a clip that not only 
prevents tissue from becoming enmeshed in the spring but also prevents 
galling between the spring and the legs of the clip. Accordingly, the 
present invention encompasses a clip comprising a hollow, cylindrical hub 
which includes first and second hub sections. The hub sections are joined 
by a pin that allows independent rotation of the hub sections about the 
pin. First and second legs are joined to the first and second hub 
sections, respectively, each leg including a clamping surface. The 
clamping surface of the first leg opposes the clamping surface of the 
second leg. A spring mechanism having first and second ends biases the 
clamping surfaces together. A mechanism disposed on the first and second 
hub sections engages the first and second ends, respectively, of the 
spring mechanism. First and second levers for spreading the clamping 
surfaces apart are respectively coupled to the first and second hub 
sections. 
The present invention achieves each of the objects stated above. For 
example, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the spring 
mechanism may be substantially entirely enclosed within the hollow, 
cylindrical hub, virtually eliminating the chance that any tissue will 
become enmeshed in the spring. In accordance with another aspect of the 
invention, the spring mechanism can include a coil spring with upturned 
ends, and each end can be disposed in a notch in a hub section. The ends 
of the spring then move with the hub sections, preventing any galling 
between the hub sections and the ends of the spring. Other objects, 
aspects and advantages will become apparent upon studying the following 
detailed description and the accompanying drawings of two preferred 
embodiments of the invention.

Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention: 
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a first exemplary aneurysm clip 100 embodying the 
present invention comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical hub 101 and 
first and second legs 102a, 102b projecting in the same direction from 
spaced positions on the periphery of the hub 101. Each leg 102a, 102b 
includes a blade 103a, 103b with a clamping surface 104a, 104b for bearing 
against tissue. The aneurysm clip 100 also comprises a coil spring 105 for 
biasing the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b together. 
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the coil spring is 
contained entirely within the hollow hub 101. The hub 101 is divided in 
half along the transverse mid-plane of the hub 101, i.e., the mid-plane of 
the hub 101 perpendicular to the axis of the hub 101, forming first and 
second hub sections 101a, 101b. Each hub section 101a, 101b is the mirror 
image of the other and includes a generally circular hub plate 106a, 106b 
with a rim 110a, 110b that projects axially a short distance from the 
periphery of the hub plate 106a, 106b toward the other hub section 101b, 
101a. The hub plates 106a, 106b and rims 110a, 110b serve to enclose the 
coil spring 105 and prevent tissue from becoming enmeshed between the 
spring 105 and the hub 101 or between the coils 111 of the spring 105. 
To position the coil spring 105 and to lend additional structural support 
to the hollow hub 101, each hub section 101a, 101b also includes a 
cylindrical bushing 112a, 112b which projects coaxially from the hub plate 
106a, 106b in the same direction and to the same extent as the rim 110a, 
110b. A hole 113 extends coaxially through the bushing 112a, 112b and the 
hub plate 106a, 106b of each hub section 101a, 101b. A pin 114, which is 
disposed within the hole 113 and riveted in position, joins the hub 
sections 101a, 101b but leaves them free to rotate independently about the 
pin 114. The hub sections 101a, 101b are joined with their respective rims 
110a, 110b and bushings 112a, 112b abutting, defining an annular space 115 
within the hub 101. The coil spring 105 is disposed within this annular 
space 115 with the coils 111 of the spring 105 mounted about the 
cylindrical bushings 112a, 112b. 
The first and second legs 102a, 102b project from the rims 110a, 110b of 
the first and second hub sections 101a, 101b, respectively, and the coil 
spring 105 is operatively coupled to each hub section 101a, 101b, opposing 
any rotation of the hub sections 101a, 101b which moves the clamping 
surfaces 104a, 104b apart. In accordance with another aspect of the 
invention, whenever the hub sections 101a, 101b rotate in opposite 
directions about the pin 114, there is no relative movement between the 
coil spring 105 and the hub sections 101a, 101b at the locations where the 
coil spring 105 is operatively coupled to the hub sections 101a, 101b. In 
the preferred embodiment, a notch 116a, 116b is formed in the rim 110a, 
110b of each hub section 101a, 101b with the notch 116a, 116b in one rim 
110a, 110b diametrically opposed to the notch 116b, 116a in the other rim 
110b, 110a. The coil spring 105 terminates in upturned ends 120a, 120b, 
and each end 120a, 120b is disposed in a notch 116a, 116b, exerting a 
tangential force on the corresponding rim 110a, 110b. Since the coil 
spring 105 winds or unwinds as the hub sections 101a, 101b rotate in 
opposite directions about the pin 114 and, since the upturned ends 120a, 
120b move ciucumferentially as the spring 105 winds or unwinds, there is 
no relative movement between the rim 110a, 110b and the upturned end 120a, 
120b disposed in the notch 116a, 116b in the rim 110a, 110b, as with many 
conventional clips. Consequently, the ends 120a, 120b of the spring 105 do 
not gall against or gouge small fragments from the hub sections 101a, 
101b. 
Further, the upturned ends 120a, 120b of the spring 105 and the notches 
116a, 116b in the hub sections 101a, 101b are dimensioned to minimize 
contact between the spring 105 and the environment outside the hub 101 and 
between the environment and the interior of the hub 101. Thus, the 
upturned ends 120a, 120b extend no further than the periphery of the rims 
110a, 110b, and the notches 116a, 116b, though square, are no larger than 
necessary to accommodate the diameter of the spring wire. Consequently, 
the clip 100 presents no jagged projections or depressions which can tear 
or trap tissue. 
While the notches 116a, 116b and the upturned ends 120a, 120b comprise the 
preferred mechanism for coupling the coil spring 105 to the hub 101, other 
mechanisms may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
For example, a protrusion projecting radially inwardly a short distance 
from each rim could be substituted for the notch in the rim. The upturned 
ends of the coil spring would then act against the protrusions, causing 
the hub sections to rotate in opposite directions, again without relative 
movement between the upturned ends and the protrusions. 
The first and second legs 102a, 102b project from the hub sections 101a, 
101b near the notches 116a, 116b in the rims 110a, 110b, each leg 102a, 
102b extending through an initial member 121a, 121b and a cross-over 
member 122a, 122b before terminating in the blade 103a, 103b. The portion 
of each initial member 121a, 121b nearest the hub section 101a, 101b 
extends axially beyond the rim 110a, 110b for the full length of the hub 
101, forming an arcuate lip 123a, 123b within which the rim 110b, 110a of 
the other hub section 101b, 101a fits. With the clamping blades 104a, 104b 
abutting, the initial members 121a, 121b project from the hub 101 
symmetrically with respect to the transverse mid-plane and parallel to 
each other, each narrowing as it approaches the cross-over member 122a, 
122b. Each initial member 121a, 121b has a surface 124a, 124b which is 
tangential to the hub 101 and which contains a conical depression 125a, 
125b bisected by the transverse midplane. 
The cross-over member 122a, 122b of each leg 102a, 102b lies only on one 
side of the transverse mid-plane, i.e., the same side as the hub section 
101a, 101b from which the leg 102a, 102b projects, includes a broad 
surface 126a, 126b facing but spaced from the transverse mid-plane. The 
cross-over members 122a, 122b project from respective initial members 
121a, 121b at an angle such that, when viewed orthogonally to the 
transverse mid-plane, they cross at a point proximate the blades 103a, 
103b when the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b are abutting. 
Lying symmetrically with respect to the transverse mid-plane, the blades 
103a, 103b project from the cross-over members 122a, 122b at an angle such 
that both clamping surfaces 104a, 104b lie within the same axial 
mid-plane, i.e., a mid-plane of the hub 101 containing the axis of the hub 
101, when the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b are abutting. The clamping 
surfaces 104a, 104b, which serve to compress and occlude, for example, the 
neck of an aneurysm, have fine serrations 127a, 127b running obliquely 
across the full width of the blade 103a, 103b to reduce slippage. 
Alternatively, the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b can include small, 
teeth-like projections instead of the fine serrations 127a, 127b. 
The aneurysm clip 100 may be fabricated according to many known techniques. 
For example, according to a preferred technique, each hub section 101a, 
101b and associated leg 102a, 102b may be milled from a piece of bar stock 
of, for example, rust-resistant stainless steel. Consequently, the 
stresses and structural weaknesses associated with the bends in many 
conventional aneurysm clips are avoided. The coil spring 105 may be drawn 
and shaped from spring wire in a conventional manner and is then fitted 
within one hub section 101a, 101b with the coils 111 mounted about the 
cylindrical bushing 112a, 112b and an upturned end 120a, 120b inserted 
into the notch 116a, 116b. The other hub section 101b, 101a and associated 
leg 102b, 102a are then fitted to the hub section 101a, 101b and 
associated leg 102a, 102b containing the coil spring 105 with the clamping 
surfaces 104a, 104b, rims 110a, 110b and bushings 112a, 112b abutting and 
the other upturned end 120b, 120a of the spring 105 inserted into the 
notch 116b, 116a. The pin 114 is then inserted into the hole 113 and 
riveted in place, yielding the aneurysm clip 100. Preferably several 
aneurysm clips 100 are fabricated having coil springs 105 of different 
tensions so that an aneurysm clip 100 having the optimal closing pressure 
may be selected for a particular application. 
In the preferred mode of operation, the aneurysm clip 100 is grasped by a 
conventional clip applier 130 having opposed jaws 131a,131b, each 
including opposingly directed projections 132a, 132b which fit into the 
depressions 125a, 125b in the initial members 121a, 121b of the legs 102a, 
102b of the clip 100, as shown in FIG. 4. As the handles 133a, 133b of 
clip applier 130 are squeezed together, the jaws 131a, 131b approach each 
other and the projections 132a, 132b bear against the legs 102a, 102b, 
forcing the initial members 121a, 121b together. With the initial members 
121a, 121b acting as levers rotating the hub sections 101a, 101b in 
opposite directions about the pin 114, the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b 
are spread apart. As the hub sections 101a, 101b rotate in opposite 
directions about the pin 114, the rims 110a, 110b of the hub sections 
101a, 101b act against the upturned ends 120a, 120b of the spring 105, 
winding the spring 105 tighter. Since the upturned ends 120a, 120b of the 
spring 105 move circumferentially with the rims 110a, 110b, there is no 
relative movement between them and no galling or gouging as one piece of 
metal moves against another. 
With the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b spread apart, the blades 103a, 103b 
are positioned, for example, with the neck of an aneurysm between them and 
the handles 133a, 133b of the clip applier 130 are spread, forcing the 
jaws 131a, 131b apart, as shown in FIG. 5. The upturned ends 120a, 120b of 
the coil spring 105, acting against the rims 110a, 110b then rotate the 
hub sections 101a, 101b in opposite directions about the pin 114 such that 
the clamping surfaces 104a, 104b close on the neck of the aneurysm. Again, 
as the hub sections 101a, 101b rotate, the upturned ends 120a, 120b of the 
spring 105 move circumferentially with the rims 110a, 110b without 
relative movement between them. Further, since the hub sections 101a, 101b 
and associated legs 102a, 102b have broad surface areas abutting one 
another, e.g., between the ends of the rims 110a, 110b and bushings 112a, 
112b and between the rims 110a, 110b and the arcuate lips 123a, 123b, the 
clamping surfaces 104a, 104b are reliably maintained in opposition 
throughout the opening and closing of the blades 103a, 103b. Since the 
facing surfaces 124a, 124b are spaced from each other, a gap is maintained 
between them at all times while the blades 103a, 103b are opening and 
closing, preventing any "scissoring" of tissue by the cross-over members 
122a, 122b. 
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a second exemplary aneurysm clip 200 embodying 
the present invention also comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical hub 
201, including first and second hub sections 206a, 206b, and first and 
second legs 202a, 202b projecting in the same direction from the periphery 
of the first and second hub sections 201a, 201b, respectively. As in the 
first aneurysm clip 100, each of the legs 202a, 202b also include a blade 
203a, 203b with a clamping surface 204a, 204b for bearing against tissue, 
and a coil spring 205 biases the clamping surfaces 204a, 204b together. 
Each of the hub sections 201a, 201b includes a hub plate 206a, 206b, a rim 
210a, 210b, cylindrical bushing 212a, 212b, and central hole 213, 
virtually identical to those of the first aneurysm clip 100. A pin 214 
similarly joins the hub sections 201a, 201b, leaving them free to 
independently rotate and defining an annular space 215 within the hub 201. 
The coil spring 205 is, again, contained entirely within the annular space 
215 of the hub 201 and coupled to the hub sections 201a, 201b at notches 
216a, 216b into which upturned ends 220a, 220b of the spring 205 are 
inserted. 
Unlike the first aneurysm clip 100, the notches 216a, 216b of the second 
aneurysm clip 200 are disposed in diametrically corresponding locations in 
the rims 212a, 212b. The legs 202a, 202b, which include only the blades 
203a, 203b, radially project symmetrically with respect to the transverse 
mid-plane from locations on the rims 210a, 210b diametrically opposed to 
the notches 216a, 216b. The portion of each blade 203a, 203b nearest the 
rim 210a, 210b extends axially beyond the rim 210a, 210b for the full 
length of the hub 201, forming a lip 223a, 223b within which the other rim 
210b, 210a fits. The clamping surfaces 204a, 204b of the second aneurysm 
clip 200 also have fine serrations 227a, 227b running obliquely across the 
full width of the blades 203a, 203b. Alternatively, the clamping surfaces 
204a, 204b can include small, teeth-like projections instead of the fine 
serrations 227a, 227b. 
Also unlike the first aneurysm clip 100, the second aneurysm clip 200 
includes first and second spaced arms 240a, 240b which project radially 
from the rims 210a, 210b of the first and second hub sections 201a, 201b, 
respectively, proximate the notches 216a, 216b. The portion of each arm 
240a, 240b nearest the rim 210a, 210b extends axially beyond the rim 210a, 
210b for the full length of the hub 201, forming an arcuate lip 241a, 241b 
within which the other rim 210b, 210a fits. The arms 240a, 240b, which 
project from the hub 201 symmetrically with respect to the transverse 
mid-plane, include opposite facing surfaces 242a, 242b containing conical 
depressions 243a, 243b. 
The second aneurysm clip 200 is preferably fabricated in a fashion 
identical to that of the first aneurysm clip 100, and the preferred mode 
of operation is very similar. The clip 200 is grasped in a clip applier 
with the projections of the clip applier fitting into the conical 
depressions 243a, 243b on the radial arms 240a, 240b. As the handles of 
the clip applier are squeezed together, the arms 240a, 240b on the hub 201 
are forced together. With the arms 240a, 240b acting as levers rotating 
the hub sections 201a, 201b in opposite directions, the clamping surfaces 
204a, 204b are spread apart. The rims 210a, 210b of the rotating hub 
sections 201a, 201b act against the upturned ends 220a, 220b of the spring 
205, winding the spring 205 tighter. When the handles of the clip applier 
are spread, the upturned ends 220a, 220b of the spring 205 act against the 
rims 210a, 210b, rotating the hub sections 201a, 201b in opposite 
directions and closing the blades 203a, 203b. As in the first aneurysm 
clip 100, all interaction between the rims 210a, 210b and the up-turned 
ends 220a, 220b occurs without relative movement. 
Although the present invention has been described in terms of two 
particular embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments. 
Alternative embodiments and modifications which would still be encompassed 
by the invention may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in 
light of the foregoing teachings. Therefore, the following claims are 
intended to cover any alternative embodiments, modifications or 
equivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of the 
invention as defined by the claims.