Absorbable surgical staple

• US 20100256675A1
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matthew L. Romans
• Original Assignee: Matthew L. Romans
• Inventors: Romans, Matthew L.
• Application Number:
  US12/798,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive

Abstract

A surgical staple is provided which has at least a portion thereof which is bio-absorbable. Portions of the staple are configured to retain the staple at a subcutaneous location. After absorption of portions of the staple, other portions of the staple can be removed. In one form, the staple includes an elongate cross bar with a pair of posts extending from ends of the cross bar to tips. One form of subcutaneous retainer is provided on the posts in the form of barbs oriented to hold the posts subcutaneously.

Claims

1. A barbed staple, comprising in combination:

a cross bar having an elongate form between opposing ends thereof, said ends spaced apart by a length of said cross bar;

a first post coupled to said cross bar and extending away from said cross bar, said first post extending to a tip spaced from said cross bar by a length of said first post;

a second post coupled to said cross bar and extending away from said cross bar, said second post extending to a tip spaced from said cross bar by a length of said second post;

at least two barbs, with at least one said barb coupled to each of said posts, each said barb including a root spaced from a tip, with said root fixed to one of said posts and said tip spaced from said root by a length of said barb; and

said at least two barbs oriented with said tips of said barbs closer to said cross bar than said roots of said barbs.

2. The barbed staple of claim 1 wherein said first post and said second post are oriented substantially parallel to each other.

3. The barbed staple of claim 2 wherein said first post and said second post are each oriented substantially perpendicular to said cross bar.

4. The barbed staple of claim 1 wherein zones of weakness are interposed between said posts and said cross bar, such that said posts are coupled to said cross bar through said zones of weakness, said zones of weakness adapted to be weaker than portions of said posts and said cross bar adjacent said zones of weakness.

5. The barbed staple of claim 4 wherein said zones of weakness are adapted to allow said cross bar to be separated from said posts, with said posts adapted to remain within a patient while said cross bar is removed.

6. The barbed staple of claim 4 wherein said zones of weakness are formed of a material which is adapted to be absorbed within the body of a patient after said zones of weakness are implanted within the body of the patient as part of the staple.

7. The barbed staple of claim 6 wherein said zones of weakness are formed of a material which absorbs more rapidly into the body of the patient than a material forming other portions of the barbed staple.

8. The barbed staple of claim 1 wherein at least portions of said barbs coupled to said posts are adapted to absorb into the body of a patient after implantation within the body of the patient.

9. The barbed staple of claim 8 wherein said first post, said second post and said at least two barbs coupled to said posts are each formed of a common material adapted to be absorbed into the body of a patient after implantation therein.

10. An absorbable staple, comprising in combination:

a cross bar having an elongate form between opposing ends thereof, said ends spaced apart by a length of said cross bar;

a pair of posts including a first post and a second post, said posts coupled to said cross bar at locations on said cross bar spaced from each other, with said pair of posts each extending away from said cross bar to tips of said posts spaced from said cross bar;

at least one of said posts including a subcutaneous retainer thereon, said subcutaneous retainer adapted to hold the post in a subcutaneous position after implantation of the absorbable staple through skin of the patient; and

at least a portion of said subcutaneous retainer formed of an absorbable material adapted to be absorbed into the body of the patient after implantation therein.

11. The absorbable staple of claim 10 wherein both said posts and said subcutaneous retainer are each formed of a material that is adapted to be absorbed after implantation into the body.

12. The absorbable staple of claim 11 wherein each of said posts includes a subcutaneous retainer thereon, with both said posts and said subcutaneous retainers each formed of a common material adapted to be adsorbed into the body after implantation therein.

13. The absorbable staple of claim 10 wherein said subcutaneous retainer includes at least one barb, said barb including a root spaced from a tip, with said root affixed to said post and said tip spaced from said root by a length of said barb, said at least one barb oriented with said tip of said barb closer to said cross bar than said root of said barb.

14. The absorbable staple of claim 13 wherein both said barbs and said posts are formed of a common material adapted to be absorbed after implantation into the body of the patient.

15. The absorbable staple of claim 14 wherein zones of weakness are provided between each of said posts and said cross bar, said zones of weakness adapted to be weaker than portions of said cross bar and said posts adjacent said zones of weakness.

16. The absorbable staple of claim 15 wherein said zones of weakness are formed of a material adapted to be absorbed into the body after implantation therein, said zones of weakness adapted to absorb more rapidly than said posts adjacent said zone of weakness, such that said zones of weakness absorb first, and said cross bar can be removed while said posts continue to stabilize tissues through which said post is oriented, such as to minimize epidermal scarring.

17. A method for holding an incision closed, including the steps of:

identifying a barbed staple having a cross bar with an elongate form between opposing ends thereof, the ends spaced apart by a length of the cross bar;

a first post coupled to the cross bar and extending away from the cross bar, the first post extending to a tip spaced from the cross bar by a length of the first post;

a second post coupled to the cross bar and extending away from the cross bar, the second post extending to a tip spaced from the cross bar by a length of the second post;

at least two barbs with at least one barb coupled to each of the posts, each barb including a root spaced from a tip, with the root coupled to one of the posts and the tip spaced from the root by a length of the barb; and

the at least two barbs oriented with the tips of the barbs closer to the cross bar than the roots of the barbs; and

placing the barbed staple with the first post on a first side of the incision and the second post on a second side of the incision opposite the first side, with each of the posts penetrating into the skin on opposite sides of the incision and with the cross bar spanning the incision.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said identifying step includes identifying the barbed staple having at least portions of the barbs formed of a material that is absorbable within the body after implantation therein;

and

allowing at least portions of the barbs to be absorbed at a time sufficiently after said placing step that the incision has healed sufficiently to remain closed.

19. The method of claim 18 including the further step of removing at least the cross bar of the barbed staple after said allowing step.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said removing step includes the step of removing both the cross bar and at least portions of the posts after said allowing step.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said identifying step includes the step of identifying the barbed staple as one having zones of weakness between the cross bar and each of the posts, the zones of weakness formed of a material weaker than a material forming the cross bar and portions of the posts adjacent the zones of weakness;

and

separating the cross bar above the zones of weakness from the posts below the zones of weakness after said placing step.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said zones of weakness are formed of a material which is adapted to be absorbed into the body of the patient after implantation therein, with the zones of weakness formed of a material which absorbs more rapidly into the body than other portions of the barbed staple.

23. A skin suturing device, comprising in combination:

an elongate length of material extending between a first end and a second end;

a first subcutaneous retainer affixed to said length closer to said first end than said second end;

a second subcutaneous retainer affixed to said length closer to said second end than said first end;

said first subcutaneous retainer adapted to more easily penetrate a patient'"'"'s skin in a first direction in which said first end extends, than in a second direction opposite said first direction; and

said second subcutaneous retainer adapted to more easily penetrate a patient'"'"'s skin in an advancing direction in which said second end extends, than in a retreating direction opposite said advancing direction.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said elongate length of material is flexible.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said elongate length of material is elastic.

26. The device of claim 23 wherein said elongate length of material includes a substantially rigid cross bar extending between a pair of substantially rigid posts, with said subcutaneous retainers in the form of barbs on said posts.

27. The device of claim 23 wherein each said subcutaneous retainer is formed of a bio-absorbable material.