Patent ID: 7892244

Claim:
A surgical clip assembly which comprises: a pair of generally linear compression elements for securing tissue therebetween and for applying to the secured tissue a compression force, each compression element having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said clip assembly has an initial, open position in which said linear compression elements may be positioned about tissue to be secured therebetween, and a final, closed position whereat said compression elements are substantially parallel to each other, thereby to apply a compressive force to the secured tissue; and a first and a second hinge member, said first hinge member disposed between said first end portions of said pair of compression elements and said second hinge member disposed between said second end portions of said compression elements, said two hinge members being non-unitary with said pair of linear compression elements, wherein said first and second hinge members are in mechanical communication with said first and second end portions of said linear compression elements, respectively, and said hinge members are operative to transmit operational forces therebetween, and wherein said hinge members and compression elements form a closed bounded surface in both the open and closed positions of said clip assembly.