Patent ID: 8097004

Claim:
An apparatus ( 20 ) for dispensing a surgical clip ( 1 ), the clip comprising a central portion ( 2 ) defining a plane and a pair of limbs ( 3 , 4 ) extending from opposite sides of the central portion, one ( 3 ) of the limbs having a free end disposed forward, and above the plane, of the central portion ( 2 ) and the other ( 4 ) of the limbs having a free end disposed forward, and below the plane, of the central portion ( 2 ), the apparatus comprising: an inner shaft ( 27 ) on or in which the clip can be mounted with its limbs facing forwards; and an outer movable member ( 25 ) for displacing the clip along the longitudinal axis of the inner shaft; wherein the inner shaft ( 27 ) comprises a central region ( 40 ) for accommodating the central portion ( 2 ) of the clip, and a pair of opposed guide rails ( 41 , 42 ) provided on opposite sides of the central region ( 40 ), one ( 41 ) of the guide rails being positioned above the central region to accommodate the one limb ( 3 ) and the other ( 42 ) of the guide rails being positioned below the central region to accommodate the other limb ( 4 ) of the clip, wherein the inner shaft ( 27 ) comprises an upper bar ( 49 ) and a lower bar ( 50 ) spaced apart from one another, the central region ( 40 ) being formed by the space between the bars, wherein said one ( 41 ) of the guide rails is provided on a side of the upper bar ( 49 ) and said other ( 42 ) of the guide rails is provided on a side of the lower bar ( 50 ), wherein each of the guide rails ( 41 , 42 ) faces outwardly away from the central region ( 40 ).