Surgical clip applicator

Claim 1

In a hand operated surgical clip applicator for positioning and actuating a jaw-like surgical clip and clamping an associated spring thereon comprising an elongated positioning tube having a cradle at one end thereof for holding said clip and spring and independent actuating and clamping controls at the opposite end thereof, a first actuating member slidably mounted within said tube for actuating said jaw-like clip and an independent second actuating member slidably mounted within said tube for clamping said associated spring on said clip, said independent actuating and clamping controls controlling slidable movement of said actuating members, the improvement wherein said controls are of a pistol grip assembly configuration adapted for operation by only one hand of an operator comprising a stationary elongated carriage member depending from said tube in fixed, spaced, substantially parallel relationship thereto and supporting a fixed gripping butt thereon, a trigger member pivotally mounted on said carriage for movement toward and away from said butt and connected to said first actuating member for controlling sliding movement of said first actuating member toward and away from said cradle, and a slide lever slidably mounted on said carriage member for reciprocal sliding movement therealong and connected to said second actuating member for independently slidably moving said second member along said tube as said slide lever slides along said carriage member, said slide lever including a laterally extending actuating portion adapted for actuation by the same hand of the operator gripping said butt and trigger members.