Method For Delivering a Plurality of Fasteners

• US 20080045978A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kuhns, Jesse, Fuchs, Rick, Norvelle, David, Thompson, Bennie, Koch, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes

Abstract

A delivery device for delivering a plurality of individual surgical fasteners. The delivery device includes a drive mechanism having distal and proximal ends. The drive mechanism has a moving member and a fixed opposing member, wherein the moving member is moveable proximally and distally with respect to the delivery device. The moving member has a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue. The device includes at least one surgical fastener located between the first and the second members. Each of the at least one surgical fasteners has a proximal end and a distal end. The device also has an actuator having at least two sequential positions. A first position for moving the moving member distally and piercing tissue, and a second position for moving the moving member proximally, thereby deploying the distal end of the fastener.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method for delivering a plurality of fasteners, comprising:

disposing a plurality of fasteners in a tube having a longitudinal axis, the plurality of fasteners substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and including a distal-most fastener and a proximal fastener, the proximal fastener positioned proximal to the distal-most fastener within the tube;

engaging a proximal end of the distal-most fastener with an engaging member;

penetrating tissue with a member having a sharp end, the member disposed at least partially within the tube;

releasing the distal-most fastener from the tube; and

retracting the engaging member relative to the distal-most fastener such that the engaging member engages the proximal end of the proximal fastener.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the releasing step comprises moving the engaging member to a second position, distal to the first position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the engaging step comprises engaging the proximal end of the distal-most fastener with an engaging member when the engaging member is at a first position.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the retracting step comprises moving the engaging member from the second position to the first position.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the engaging step comprises the step of engaging the proximal end of the distal-most fastener at more than one surface of the distal-most fastener.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the penetrating step and the moving step are performed simultaneously.

24. A method for delivering a plurality of fasteners, comprising:

disposing a plurality of fasteners in a tube having a longitudinal axis, the plurality of fasteners substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and including a distal-most fastener and a proximal fastener, the proximal fastener positioned proximal to the distal-most fastener within the tube;

engaging a proximal end of the distal-most fastener with an engaging member;

penetrating tissue with a member having a sharp end, the member disposed at least partially within the tube;

releasing the distal-most fastener from the tube; and

retracting the engaging member relative to the tube such that the engaging member engages the proximal end of the proximal fastener.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the releasing step comprises moving the engaging member to a second position, distal to the first position.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the engaging step comprises engaging the proximal end of the distal-most fastener with an engaging member when the engaging member is at a first position.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the retracting step comprises moving the engaging member from the second position to the first position.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the engaging step comprises the step of engaging the proximal end of the distal-most fastener at more than one surface of the distal-most fastener.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the penetrating step and the moving step are performed simultaneously.