US Patent 8021375 Surgical clip applicator

A surgical clip applicator for applying surgical clips to body tissue includes an elongated ram housing that has proximal and distal ends and at least partially encloses a ram. A trigger housing includes a trigger that has an open position and a closed position. The trigger housing is mounted to the proximal end of the ram housing. The ram extends partially into the trigger housing and is operatively connected to the trigger. The trigger is spaced a first distance from the trigger housing in the open position and spaced a second distance from the trigger housing in the closed position. The first distance being larger than the second distance. A cartridge is removably mounted into the ram housing. The cartridge includes a plurality of the surgical clips. A retaining mechanism retains the trigger with respect to the trigger housing between the open and closed positions. Mounting the cartridge into the distal end of the ram housing urges at least a portion of the ram into the housing to set the trigger in the open position.