Importance

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Abstract

A plastics clip for performing sexual sterilization comprises two jaws each having a lining of silicone rubber, hinged to move from an open position to a closed position, in which a Fallopian tube is occluded. A catch mechanism biasses the jaws apart when the clip is open, by means of pressure from a resilient finger on a cam profile attached to the upper jaw. The finger and underside of the cam profile engage when the jaws reach their closed position, and lock the jaws closed. During closure, a resilient tongue formed on the upper jaw and a projection forming a hook on the lower jaw prevent the tube from escaping. Due to the biassing, the clip will spring back open during application if not sufficiently closed to engage the catch mechanism. In conjunction with the biassing, two moulded recesses and the shaping of the clip in a region adjacent the hinge end the clip to be located firmly in an applicator before closure. When closed, the jaw members define therebetween a first region lying adjacent the hinge and receiving a tube to be occluded, and a second region at the free ends of the jaws remote from the hinge. The second region has a cross-section of a size to prevent a Fallopian tube being withdrawn therethrough while permitting the mesosalpinx of the tube to pass relatively freely.

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First Claim