A blood vessel clip applicator includes two twist pins at one end, between which a blood vessel is placed before occlusion. A magazine in the blood vessel clip applicator holds a plurality of blood vessel clips and can be rotated independently from a grip assembly, whereby the twist pins can be rotated to compress a blood vessel held between them. The blood vessel clip is placed on the blood vessel after it has been flattened. The blood vessel clip includes spring quality material, and has a head connected to a first leg and a second leg. The magazine has a constricted region adjacent to an exit aperture. As the head enters the constricted region, the compressive force exerted on the head by the constricted region opens the blood vessel clip to an open position.