Patent ID: 8021375

Claim:
A surgical clip applicator adapted for the application of a surgical clip within the human body, the surgical clip applicator comprising: a ram; a ram housing having proximal and distal ends and at least partially surrounding the ram; a trigger housing including a trigger having an open position and a closed position, the trigger housing being mounted to the proximal end of the ram housing, the ram extending partially into the trigger housing and operatively connected to the trigger, the trigger spaced a first distance from the trigger housing in the open position and spaced a second distance from the trigger housing in the closed position, the first distance being larger than the second distance, a retaining mechanism retaining the trigger with respect to the trigger housing between the open and closed positions; a cartridge removably mounted into the distal end of the ram housing, the cartridge including a plurality of surgical clips, wherein mounting the cartridge into the distal end of the ram housing urges at least a portion of the ram into the trigger housing set the trigger in the open position.