Patent ID: 7232445

Claim:
A surgical clip applier for applying a surgical clip having two clip arms each with a longitudinal length and a substantially rectangular cross-section, the clip applier comprising: a) a hollow member having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a clevis coupled to said distal end of said hollow member; c) a first jaw rotatably coupled to said clevis; d) a second jaw rotatably coupled to said clevis in opposed relation to said first jaw, said first and second jaws having a respective longitudinal extent, at least one of said first and second jaws defining a clip-sliding channel: extending substantially along said longitudinal extent; having a rectangular cross-section substantially corresponding to the cross-section of one surgical clip arm; having a longitudinal length greater than the longitudinal length of the one arm to define a clip-holding portion and a clip-sliding portion; and slidably guiding the surgical clip longitudinally along said clip-sliding portion when said first and second jaws apply the surgical clip to tissue disposed therebetween; e) at least one pull/push wire coupled to said first and second jaws and extending through said hollow member to said proximal end of said hollow member; f) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow member and said proximal end of said first push/pull wire for moving said first push/pull wire through said hollow member to cause a rotation of said first and second jaws about said clevis from an open to a closed position, wherein at least one of said jaws is provided with a plurality of teeth arranged to puncture and damage tissue adjacent to the surgical clip.