Clip devices and methods of delivery and deployment

1. A clip device for engaging tissue, the clip device comprising:

a first arm having proximal and distal ends;

a second arm having proximal and distal ends;

a proximal base member directly contacting the proximal ends of the first and second arms; and

a spring member having proximal and distal ends, wherein the spring member is disposed to surround at least a portion of the first and second arms, and wherein the proximal end of the spring member is attached to the proximal base member,

wherein the clip device comprises an open state when the spring member is in a compressed state in which the distal end of the spring member is spaced apart from the distal ends of the first and second arms, and wherein the distal ends of the first and second aims tend to be spaced apart from each other when the clip device is in the open state,

wherein the clip device comprises a closed state when the spring member is in a relaxed state in which the spring member is biased to extend distally towards the distal ends of the first and second arms, wherein the distal ends of the first and second arms are adjacent to each other when the clip device is in the closed state, wherein the relaxed state of the spring member causes the arms to close.

2. The clip device of claim 1 further comprising a distal base member having an aperture configured to permit movement of the distal base member at least partially over the first and second arms, wherein the distal end of the spring member contacts a proximal surface of the distal base member.

3. The clip device of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends the first and second arms are bent in radially inward directions to form tips configured to penetrate tissue.

4. The clip device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms are angled with respect to one another and crisscross between their respective proximal and distal ends.

5. The clip device of claim 1 further comprising a third arm having proximal and distal ends, wherein the first, second and third arms tend to be spaced apart from each other when the clip device is in the open state, wherein the distal ends of the first, second and third arms are adjacent to each other when the clip device is in the closed state, and wherein the first, second and third arms do not cross paths with respect to each other when the clip device is in the open state.

6. The clip device of claim 1 further comprising:

a catheter having a lumen, wherein the clip device is configured to be selectively advanced through the lumen of the catheter; and

a constriction formed at a distal end of the catheter, wherein the constriction facilitates selective deployment of the clip device through the distal end of the catheter.

7. The clip device of claim 6 , wherein multiple clip devices are configured to be loaded in a sequential manner within the lumen of the catheter at the same time, and further are configured to be individually and selectively deployed from the distal end of the catheter.

8. The clip device of claim 6 further comprising:

an outer sheath having a lumen, wherein the catheter is configured for longitudinal movement within the lumen of the outer sheath; and

at least one wedge member disposed along a flexible distal region of the catheter, wherein the wedge member forms the constriction at the distal end of the catheter when the outer sheath is positioned over the distal end of the catheter.

9. The clip device of claim 8 , further comprising:

a distal base member having an aperture configured to permit movement of the distal base member at least partially over the first and second arms, wherein the distal end of the spring member contacts a proximal surface of the distal base member, and

wherein the constriction comprises a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the distal base member, such that distal advancement of the clip device relative to the constriction is configured to cause the distal base member to engage the constriction, and further configured to cause the distal ends of the first and second arms to extend distally beyond the distal end of the catheter and assume the open state, and further cause the spring member to assume the compressed state.

10. The clip device of claim 9 , wherein proximal retraction of the outer sheath, beyond the distal end of the catheter and the wedge member, is adapted to permit radially outward movement of the distal end of the catheter and the wedge member to thereby remove the constriction and permit deployment of the entirety of the clip device from the distal end of the catheter.

11. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are attached to the proximal base member.

12. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are discrete from the proximal base member.

13. A clip device for engaging tissue, the clip device comprising:

a first arm having proximal and distal ends;

a second arm having proximal and distal ends;

a proximal base member contacting the proximal ends of the first and second arms;

a spring member having proximal and distal ends, wherein the spring member is disposed to surround at least a portion of the first and second arms, and wherein the proximal end of the spring extends from the proximal base member; and

a distal base member having an aperture configured to permit movement of the distal base member at least partially over the first and second arms, wherein the distal end of the spring member contacts a proximal surface of the distal base member,

wherein the clip device comprises an open state when the spring member is in a compressed state in which the distal end of the spring member is spaced apart from the distal ends of the first and second arms, and wherein the distal ends of the first and second arms tend to be spaced apart from each other when the clip device is in the open state, and

wherein the clip device comprises a closed state when the spring member is in a relaxed state in which the spring member is biased to extend distally towards the distal ends of the first and second arms, wherein the distal ends of the first and second arms are adjacent to each other when the clip device is in the closed state.

14. The clip device of claim 13 , wherein the distal ends the first and second arms are bent in radially inward directions to form tips configured to penetrate tissue.

15. The clip device of claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms are angled with respect to one another and crisscross between their respective proximal and distal ends.

16. The clip device of claim 13 further comprising:

a catheter having a lumen, wherein the clip device is configured to be selectively advanced through the lumen of the catheter; and

a constriction formed at a distal end of the catheter, wherein the constriction facilitates selective deployment of the clip device through the distal end of the catheter.

17. The clip device of claim 16 , wherein multiple clip devices are configured to be loaded in a sequential manner within the lumen of the catheter at the same time, and further are configured to be individually and selectively deployed from the distal end of the catheter.

18. The clip device of claim 16 further comprising:

an outer sheath having a lumen, wherein the catheter is configured for longitudinal movement within the lumen of the outer sheath; and

at least one wedge member disposed along a flexible distal region of the catheter, wherein the wedge member forms the constriction at the distal end of the catheter when the outer sheath is positioned over the distal end of the catheter.

19. The clip device of claim 18 , wherein the constriction comprises a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the distal base member, such that distal advancement of the clip device relative to the constriction is configured to cause the distal base member to engage the constriction, and further configured to cause the distal ends of the first and second arms to extend distally beyond the distal end of the catheter and assume the open state, and further cause the spring member to assume the compressed state.

20. The clip device of claim 19 , wherein proximal retraction of the outer sheath, beyond the distal end of the catheter and the wedge member, is adapted to permit radially outward movement of the distal end of the catheter and the wedge member to thereby remove the constriction and permit deployment of the entirety of the clip device from the distal end of the catheter.