SURGICAL CLIP HAVING COMPLIANT PORTION
A clip is provided that can be used for ligating tissue, such as vessels, other tubular ducts, and the like. The clip has opposed first and second leg members having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of each leg member is connected by an apex. The clip has a compliant portion formed on the inner surface of at least one of the first and second leg members. The compliant portion can fill gaps left by springback of the clip after formation.
1 . A surgical clip, comprising:
a. a rigid portion comprising a pair of opposed first and second leg members having proximal and distal ends with a knee portion formed therebetween,
b. an apex having opposed ends joining the proximal ends of said first and second leg members; and
c. an absorbable polymer compliant portion configured to fill a proximal opening defined between said apex and said first and second leg members and be compressed between said first and second leg members distal to said proximal opening when said surgical clip is closed, wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion comprises a complaint base and a plurality of ribs, wherein said complaint base is formed on said apex and an inner surface of at least a portion of each of said first and second leg members and extends distally from said apex beyond at least each knee of said first and second leg members, and wherein said plurality of ribs extend from said complaint base toward a centerline of said surgical clip and are configured to grip and hold tissue between said first and second leg members when said surgical clip is closed.
2 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is elastic and comprises a biodegradable absorbable polymer, wherein said biodegradable absorbable polymer comprises at least one of the following: polyglycolic acid (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolide-trimethylene carbonate (PGA/TMC), or a copolymer or blend of one or more of PGA, PCL, PLA, PGA/TMC.
3 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said proximal opening has a varying width, and a first portion of said plurality of ribs is configured to interlock with each other and a second portion of said plurality of ribs is configured to deform to grip and hold tissue between said first and second leg members when said surgical clip is closed.
4 . The surgical of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is less compliant than tissue to which said surgical clip is applicable.
5 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said one of first and second leg members comprises a groove extending along a portion thereof and said compliant portion is overmolded onto said one of first and second leg members via said groove.
6 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is configured to swell in a presence of moisture.
7 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion has a compliance that varies with the amount of compression undergone by said absorbable polymer compliant portion.
8 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion has a compliance that varies along a longitudinal length of said one of first and second leg members upon which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed.
9 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is thicker at least one point on at least one of said first and second leg members to which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed than a point on said apex and at least one other point on at least one of said first and second leg members to which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed
10 . A surgical clip, comprising:
a. a rigid portion comprising a pair of opposed first and second leg members having proximal and distal ends,
b. an apex having opposed ends joining the proximal ends of said first and second leg members; and
c. an absorbable polymer compliant portion configured to at least partially fill a proximal opening defined between said apex and said first and second leg members when said surgical clip is closed, wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion comprises a complaint base and at least one rib, wherein said complaint base is formed on said apex and an inner surface of at least a portion of each of said first and second leg members and extends distally from said apex, and wherein said at least one rib extends from said complaint base toward a centerline of said surgical clip.
11 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is elastic and comprises a biodegradable absorbable polymer, wherein said biodegradable absorbable polymer comprises at least one of the following: polyglycolic acid (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polglycolide-trimethylene carbonate (PGA/TMC), or a copolymer or blend of one or more of PGA, PCL, PLA, PGA/TMC.
12 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is less compliant than tissue to which said surgical clip is applicable.
13 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said one of first and second leg members comprises a groove extending along a portion thereof and said absorbable polymer compliant portion is overmolded onto said one of first and second leg members via said groove.
14 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said compliant portion is configured to swell in a presence of moisture.
15 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion has a compliance that varies with the amount of compression undergone by said absorbable polymer compliant portion.
16 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion has a compliance, that varies along a longitudinal length of said one of first and second leg members upon which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed.
17 . The surgical clip of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is thicker at least one point on at least one of said first and second leg members to which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed than a point on said apex and at least one other point on at least one of said first and second leg members to which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed
18 . A surgical clip, comprising:
a. a rigid portion comprising a pair of opposed first and second leg members having proximal and distal ends with a knee portion formed therebetween,
b. an apex having opposed ends joining the proximal ends of said first and second leg members; and
c. an absorbable polymer compliant portion configured to at least partially fill a proximal opening defined between said apex and said first and second leg members when said surgical clip is closed, wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed on said apex and an inner surface of at least a portion of each of said first and second leg members and extends distally from said apex beyond at least each knee of said first and second leg members, wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is thicker at least one point on at least one of said first and second leg members to which said absorbable polymer compliant portion is formed than a point on said apex and at least one other point on at least one of said first and second leg members to which said absorbable polymer compliant portion complaint portion is formed.
19 . The surgical clip of claim 18 , wherein said absorbable polymer compliant portion is elastic and comprises a biodegradable absorbable polymer, wherein said biodegradable absorbable polymer comprises at least one of the following: polyglycolic acid (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolide-trimethylene carbonate (PGA/TMC), or a copolymer or blend of one or more of PGA, PCL, PLA, PGA/TMC.
20 . The surgical clip of claim 18 , wherein said surgical clip defines a longitudinal centerline and said compliant portion comprises a plurality of ribs extending away from said inner surface towards said longitudinal centerline, and wherein at least a portion of said plurality of ribs are configured to interlock with each other when said surgical clip is closed.