Patent ID: 8357171

Claim:
An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, which comprises: a) a handle portion; b) a body extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis a member disposed inside said body; c) at least one surgical clip disposed within the body; d) a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body, the jaw assembly including first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position; e) a wedge plate having a distalmost end longitudinally movable between the first and second jaw portions, said wedge plate has a first proximal window and a second proximal window, the first proximal window being adapted to be engaged by said member disposed in said body, said member being configured to hold said distalmost end of said wedge plate in a distal most position being between said first and second jaw members; the second proximal window being adapted to be engaged by said member to hold said distalmost end of said wedge plate in a proximal most position being retracted from between said first and second jaw members, wherein when said distalmost end of said wedge plate is in said proximal most position the first and second jaw members are free to be moved to the approximated position to compress said clip; and f) an actuator at least partially disposed within the body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of the handle portion to move the first and second jaw portions to the approximated position when said distalmost end of wedge plate is in said proximal most position.