Devices and methods for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in hollow
body vessels such as the small and large intestines, arteries and veins
as well as ducts leading to the gall bladder and other organs. The
devices and methods disclosed herein are especially useful in the
emergency, trauma surgery or military setting, and most especially during
damage control procedures. In such cases, the patient may have received
trauma to the abdomen, extremities, neck or thoracic region. The devices
utilize removable or permanently implanted, broad, soft, parallel jaw
clips with minimal projections to maintain vessel contents without damage
to the tissue comprising the vessel. These clips are applied using either
standard instruments or custom devices that are subsequently removed
leaving the clips implanted, on a temporary or permanent basis, to
provide for hemostasis or leakage prevention, or both. These clips
overcome the limitations of clips and sutures that are currently used for
the same purposes. The clips come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The
clips may be placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access.