Importance

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Abstract

An endoscopic apparatus includes a pair of jaws pivotably connected to each other and movable between an open position and a closed position. The jaws have respective opposing gripper portions. Each gripper portion has a distal end, a proximal end, and an inside surface extending between the distal and proximal ends. At the closed position, the inside surfaces define a jaw gap therebetween. At least a portion of the jaw gap increases in distance along a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end. An actuating mechanism communicates with the jaws for moving the jaws between the open and closed position. In a surgical procedure in which a clip such as a hemostatic clip has been latched around a blood vessel or other tissue, the apparatus can be used to compress the clip and consequently unlatch the clip, thereby releasing the clip from the vessel. Thereafter, the apparatus can be rotated. After rotation, the apparatus can be used to grasp the clip and subsequently remove the clip from the surgical site.

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First Claim