Patent ID: 6863675

Claim:
In a polymeric surgical clip comprising first and second leg members joined at their proximal ends by a resilient hinge means, each leg member having a vessel clamping inner surface and an opposite outer surface, said vessel clamping inner surface being in opposition to the vessel clamping inner surface of the other leg member, said first leg member terminating at its distal end in a deflectable hook member curved toward said second leg member, said second leg member terminating at its distal end in a locking portion complementary to said hook member whereby when said first and second leg members are moved from an open position to a closed position about said hinge means, the hook member deflects about the distal end of said second leg member to lock the clip in a closed position, said hook member having a continuously curved outer surface extending distally from said outer surface of said first leg member, side surfaces and an inner surface; the improvement comprising: the continuously curved outer surface of said hook member comprising two convex surfaces extending distally from the inner surface and inwardly from each side surface of the hook member so that the two convex surfaces define a crest or cutting edge therebetween that extends along the length of at least a portion of the outer surface of the hook member; whereby connective tissue adjacent a vessel or the like to be clamped is cut by the crest or cutting edge of the hook member when said leg members are closed to aid in locking the clip in said closed position.