Patent ID: 8142451

Claim:
A clip applier for deploying a surgical clip, the clip applier comprising: an actuator configured to advance the surgical clip within the clip applier, the actuator comprising: a flexible wire; a collet chuck; and a piston coupled to the collet chuck, the collet chuck receiving and clamping a proximal end of the flexible wire at an initial position, wherein actuation of the piston in a forward direction towards a distal end of the clip applier advances both the collet chuck and flexible wire in the forward direction, and the collet chuck configured to release a clamping force applied to the end of the flexible wire so that the flexible wire remains positioned at an advanced position when the collet chuck returns in a rearward direction toward the initial position; and a valve positioned intermediate a distal end of the flexible wire and the proximal end of the flexible wire, wherein the valve generally stationarily supports the flexible wire at the advanced position when the collet chuck releases the clamping force.