Patent ID: 7052504

Claim:
An apparatus for applying surgical clips, each clip having first and second legs having respective distal end portions, comprising: (a) an actuator device; (b) first and second opposing jaw members communicating with the actuator device and movable to a closed position from an open position in response to actuation by the actuator device; (c) an elongate assembly comprising a proximal end attached to the actuator device and an opposing distal end, the elongate assembly adapted for containing a serial arrangement of clips between the proximal and distal ends; (d) a clip driving device disposed in the elongate assembly and communicating with the actuator device, and adapted for sequentially driving clips through the elongate assembly into engagement with the first and second jaw members in response to actuation by the actuator device; and (e) a clip pivot surface disposed in the elongate assembly at its distal end for contacting the distal end portion of the first leg a clip to cause the clip to rotate about the distal end portion of the second leg of the clip in a plane spanning both legs of the clip prior to the clip being driven into engagement with the first and second jaw members.