Non-metallic, bio-compatible hemostatic clips

Claim 1

A hemostatic clip comprising first and second leg members joined at their proximal ends by resilient hinge means and terminating at their distal ends in latch means, each leg member having an outer surface and a vessel clamping inner surface, said vessel clamping inner surace being in opposition to the vessel clamping inner surface of the other leg member, the outer surface of each leg member being configured to be accepted by the jaws of a clip applier wherby the clip may be clamped about a vessel, said first leg member terminating at the distal end thereof in a portion of the latch means, said portion comprising a deflectable hook member extending from the inner face of said leg member, said hook member having an inner surface spaced from the inner surface of said leg member, said second leg member terminating at the distal end thereof in a complementary locking portion of the latch means whereby when said first and second leg members are pivoted about said hinge means, the distal end of said leg member deflects and engages the hook member of the first leg member to lock the clip in a closed position, the vessel clamping surface of said first leg member having a concave radius of curvature between the hinge means and the hook member and the vessel clamping surface of the second leg member having a convex radius of curvature between the hinge means and its distal end, the radius of curvature of the vessel clamping surface of said second leg member being smaller than the radius of curvature of the vessel clamping surface of said first leg member whereby hook member is urged towards the hinge means when pressure is placed on the vessel clamping surfaces of the leg members when the clip is in the closed position to aid in securing the clip in the closed position.