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Short answer: “Hemoclip” is a brand name (Teleflex Weck Hemoclip) for metal surgical ligating clips, and people also use it loosely for the metal clips that endoscopists place inside the gastrointestinal tract, which are sold under other names such as the Boston Scientific Resolution Clip. The two groups are regulated under different FDA product codes, and material, MRI status and size depend on the specific product, not on the word “hemoclip”.
General product information only, not medical advice. Clinical decisions belong to the treating team and the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU).
What is a hemoclip?
A hemoclip is a small implantable metal clip used to close or compress tissue, most often to control bleeding. The name started as a trademark: the Teleflex Weck Hemoclip family is a line of metal ligation clips, and Teleflex describes the Hemoclip Tantalum clip as having a “chevron-shaped clip for tip to tip closure”, a “heart-shaped wire for grip on vessels” and “lateral transverse grooves for increased vessel contact” (Teleflex product page, checked 2026-10-30).
In everyday speech the word has widened. Searches for “hemoclip” also reach endoscopic clips, which are delivered through the working channel of an endoscope to the gastrointestinal wall. Those are a separate device family. For the surgical ligation side, see CASRAI’s guide to hemostasis clips and appliers and the overview of laparoscopic instruments; this page covers the naming overlap and the endoscopic side.
Surgical ligating clips vs endoscopic clips (resolution clips)
The FDA’s product classification database lists the two families under different identities. The comparison below uses the FDA and NLM records checked on 2026-10-30.
| Item | Surgical ligating clip (example: Weck Hemoclip Plus) | Endoscopic clip, GI tract (example: Resolution Clip) |
|---|---|---|
| FDA product code | FZP, “clip, implantable” (NLM AccessGUDID record for Hemoclip Plus Medium) | PKL, “hemostatic metal clip for the gi tract” (FDA Product Classification database) |
| Regulation | Not stated on the AccessGUDID record | 21 CFR 876.4400; Class 2; implanted device: yes |
| Stated purpose | Ligating clip (GUDID description: “Medium Ligating Clips”) | PKL definition: clip placement within the GI tract for endoscopic marking; also hemostasis and anchoring of feeding tubes. Boston Scientific lists hemostasis, endoscopic marking, closure and anchoring of jejunal feeding tubes |
| Delivery | Covered in the hemostasis clips guide | Through an endoscope; Boston Scientific lists a minimum working channel of 2.8 mm |
Naming matters when comparing products: “hemoclip” and “resolution clip” are both trade names, so a specification quoted for one brand does not transfer to another. Related terms such as “endoscopic clip” describe the category, not a single product.
Is a hemoclip metal?
Yes, the products discussed here are metal, but the metal differs by product. Teleflex sells a “Weck Hemoclip Traditional Tantalum” metal ligation clip, and the NLM AccessGUDID record for the “Hemoclip Plus Medium Ligating Clips, 25 clips/cart” lists titanium (checked 2026-10-30). The FDA’s PKL product name itself reads “hemostatic metal clip for the gi tract”. The material of a specific endoscopic clip comes from its own IFU or labeling; the Boston Scientific Resolution Clip product page does not state it.
Is a hemoclip MRI safe?
There is no single answer, because MRI status is assigned per product. The AccessGUDID record for the Hemoclip Plus Medium clip lists its MRI safety status as “MR Conditional”, which means it may be scanned only under conditions set out in the labeling. Boston Scientific states the Resolution Clip may be used in MR environments according to its Directions for Use. The specific field-strength and scan conditions are not given here; they are set out in each model’s IFU and its AccessGUDID record, which can be searched by the device identifier or catalog number printed on the package label.
Where it matters for labs, clinics and supply decisions
- Match the record to the product. AccessGUDID entries carry the product code, size, material and MRI status for a labeled device; the FDA classification entry tells you the regulatory family.
- Do not mix families. A surgical clip (FZP) and a GI endoscopic clip (PKL) are different devices with different delivery systems, so a catalog listing under one is not a substitute for the other.
- Adverse events. Device problems with implanted clips fall under the FDA’s Medical Device Reporting framework.
Common misunderstandings
- “Hemoclip” is one generic product. It is a Teleflex Weck brand; the endoscopic clip category has its own brands.
- All metal clips are MRI safe. The records checked show “MR Conditional” for the products listed, with conditions in the labeling.
- One material fits all. The Weck line alone includes tantalum and titanium versions.
FAQ
What is a hemoclip?
A hemoclip is a small implantable metal clip used to close or compress tissue. The name comes from the Teleflex Weck Hemoclip surgical ligation clip line and is also used loosely for GI endoscopic clips.
Is a hemoclip metal?
Yes. The Weck Hemoclip Traditional is a tantalum clip according to Teleflex, and the Hemoclip Plus Medium record in AccessGUDID lists titanium. Check the IFU for any other product.
Is a hemoclip MRI safe?
Not as a blanket statement. The Hemoclip Plus Medium record lists “MR Conditional”, and Boston Scientific refers to its Directions for Use for the Resolution Clip. The exact conditions are in each product’s labeling.
Hemoclip sizes
Sizes are set by each manufacturer, and size names such as small, medium or large are not interchangeable between brands. The AccessGUDID record for the Hemoclip Plus Medium clip gives a length of 5.8 mm and a height of 4.61 mm. Boston Scientific lists the Resolution Clip with an 11 mm jaw span, a working length of 155 cm or 235 cm and a minimum working channel of 2.8 mm. For any other model, use its IFU.
Sources
All sources checked 2026-10-30.
- FDA Product Classification database, product code PKL (21 CFR 876.4400): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpcd/classification.cfm?id=PKL
- NLM AccessGUDID, WECK Hemoclip Plus Medium (Teleflex): https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/34026704418214
- Teleflex, Weck Hemoclip Traditional Tantalum Metal Ligation Clips: https://us.myteleflex.com/en/USD/Surgical-Devices/Ligation/Metal-Clips/Weck%C2%AE-Hemoclip%C2%AE-Traditional-Tantalum-Metal-Ligation-Clips/p/su-devc-hemoclip-tantalum-ligation-clips
- Boston Scientific, Resolution Clip: https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/clips/resolution-clip.html
