Surgical helical fastener with applicator

Abstract

A helical fastener having a high retentive surface area is provided and has a first end for enhancing penetration into tissue and a second end comprising a coil sectioning a diameter of the fastener for receiving longitudinal and rotational forces. The helical fasteners are attached to body tissue by a fastener applicator having a proximal portion comprising a handle and an actuator and an elongate distal portion for housing a plurality of fasteners. A transferring action of the actuator provides longitudinal and rotational movement of the fasteners out of the distal portion and into body tissue.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to surgical fasteners and their associated applicators, and more particularly, surgically fastening material to tissue. [0002] Fasteners have been used surgically to eliminate the need for suturing, which is both time consuming and inconvenient. In many applications the surgeon can use a stapler apparatus, i.e., a fastener implanting device loaded with surgical fasteners to accomplish in a few seconds what would have taken many minutes to perform by suturing. This reduces blood loss and trauma to the patient. [0003] Conventional surgical fasteners have been in the form of ordinary metal staples, which are bent by the delivery apparatus to hook together body tissue. Typically, conventional staples comprise a pair of legs joined together at one end by a crown. The crown may be a straight member connecting the legs or may form an apex. Moreover, the legs may extend substantially perpendicular from the crown or at some angle ther...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a surgical fastener and applicator that can be used in various medical procedures. The fastener is a continuous helical coil that is longitudinally collapsible and expandable, with a point for enhancing penetration into tissue at its distal end and a T-bar for receiving and transmitting longitudinal and rotational forces. The fastener can be made with different materials, stiffness, and pitch and length configurations. The applicator includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion being a disposable component. The applicator can be actuated by a lever pivotally attached about a midpoint to the handle, which engages a nut driver to rotate the rotator and drive the fastener from the distal end of the applicator. The lever includes a spring loaded pawl that prevents backstroking until it is fully depressed. The invention provides a fast and efficient way to ligate tissue, hernia mesh repair, bladder neck suspension, and position implant drug delivery systems or devices in a patient's body.

Problems solved by technology

Since conventional staples require deformation and must cooperate with applicators having an anvil or other means to deform the staples, conventional applicators typically comprise complex structures and can be prohibitively expensive.

It is to be appreciated, therefore, that the fastener applicators have become complex and expensive instruments.

The two piece fasteners cannot be unlocked and are not removable.

Thus, as with the other conventional applications, two piece fasteners are limited since they cannot be used where access to tissue is from one direction only.

As mentioned previously, however, the applicators commonly used in these situations embody an anvil cooperating with a fastener to deform it and consequently, tend to be of a complex design.

These fasteners are limited, however, since the path created in the graft and tissue by the barbs as the fastener is pressed into the graft and tissue may allow the fastener to loosen its grip or to entirely back out of engagement.

Moreover, due to their sole reliance upon barbs to retain tissue, the barb fasteners are further limited in that they may not have a great enough retentive surface area for securely holding tissue in place.

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