Patent ID: 8287559

Claim:
A surgical clip for ligating a tubular vessel in vivo, the clip consisting essentially of: a first clip portion comprising: a first external surface; a first clamping surface positioned on a surface of the first clip portion opposite of the first external surface; a second clip portion coupled to the first clip portion, comprising; a second external surface; a second clamping surface positioned on a surface opposite of the second external surface; a hinge portion coupling the first and second clip portions positioned at a first end of the first and second clip portions, comprising: a pivot axis about which the first and second clip portions are hinged such that the clip portions are configured to move from an open condition to a closed condition; and a lock for locking the clip portions together when in use such that the tubular vessel placed between the first and second clip portions is ligated, comprising: a first lock portion positioned proximate an end of the first clip portion opposite the hinge portion; and a second lock portion positioned proximate an end of the second clip portion opposite the hinge portion; wherein the first lock portion and the second lock portion are positioned to cooperate to lock the clip portions together during use; wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces comprises surface undulation and at least a portion of the surface undulation contacts the tubular vessel during use; wherein the clamping surfaces and hinge portion are positioned such that the clamping surfaces are substantially parallel to one another when the tubular vessel is ligated during use; means providing a stand-off gap between the clamping surfaces of at least 0.1 mm across the length of clamping surfaces in the absence of the tubular vessel when the clip is in the closed position; wherein a first maximum dimension of the clip in a first direction is between about 0.25 and about 1.0 times a second maximum dimension of the clip in a second direction and wherein the first and second directions are orthogonal to each other and the first and second directions are parallel with the clamping surfaces when the clip is in the closed condition; wherein in use the tubular vessel is accommodated when positioned between the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface; wherein in use the clip has a substantially smooth substantially spherical or substantially ovoid external 3-dimensional shape that is substantially free of: i) external projections; and ii) rough or sharp ends or rough or sharp edges so as to reduce the possibility of the clip eroding tissue structures surrounding the clip in vivo.