Patent ID: 8454629

Claim:
A method of marlin a biopsy site, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an instrument including a needle having an opening (b) providing a clip delivery device within the needle, wherein the clip delivery device comprises: 1) an elongated delivery tube including: a longitudinal axis, b. a leading portion with a forward end, wherein the forward end is generally rounded; and c. a sidewall, wherein the sidewall includes an opening, having a center, in the elongated delivery tube axially spaced from the leading portion, the opening coexisting with the opening of the needle; 2) an elongated push rod including a portion that slides within the elongated delivery tube and within the opening in the sidewall of the elongated delivery tube; 3) a flat ramp guide surface located in the tube, the ramp guide surface being inclined so that the ramp guide surface defines a rear end of the leading portion, and the ramp guide surface being located in the opening in the sidewall of the elongated delivery tube; 4) a gripping portion and deployment actuator that can be used ambidextrously, the deployment actuator being connected to the elongated push rod; 5) a surface marking pointing towards a direction of the opening in the elongated delivery tube; and 6) a return device for biasing movement of the deployment actuator and the elongated push rod so that after deployment the deployment actuator and the elongated push rod will retract to a predetermined position; wherein an encapsulated clip is located in the elongated delivery tube and axially forward of the push rod, wherein the center of the opening in the sidewall of the elongated delivery tube is located about 10 mm or more from the forward end of the leading portion, and wherein an encasement at least partially surrounds the clip so that the encasement protects the clip from forces encountered during deployment of the clip: (c) delivering the encapsulated clip to a biopsy site, wherein the step of delivering the clip is essentially free of a step of longitudinal re-positioning of greater than about 3 mm by the user of the needle or clip delivery device so that the encapsulated clip is precisely deployed to a central portion of the biopsy site.