| abstract |
A surgical apparatus and method for occluding or encircling a body passageway, e.g. for haemostasis, is described. The apparatus comprises generally a delivery system for offering a temperature-dependent shape memory material clip (3') (e.g. of Nitinol and suitably of gnerally U-shape in the open (a) condition) onto the body passageway, allowing body heat to warm the clip whereby the clip closes to a closed (b) condition in which it occludes or encircles the body passageway. The apparatus is then withdrawn from the operating zone. The apparatus includes drive and control functions for moving a train of clips (3') within a shaft (2') of the apparatus towards a distal end port (6'), and preferably a temperature control system whereby the clips within the housing are maintained at a first temperature, substantially below body temperature. |