Instrument for applying plastic-like surgical fastening devices

• US 4,513,746 A
• Filed: 10/09/1981
• Issued: 04/30/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Aranyi, Ernie, Gravener, Roy D., Ihasz, Richard, Tovey, Hugh J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US06/310,412
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 24/221 R, 128/303 A, 128/325, 128/329, 128/330, 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 128/337, 227/15-19, 227/67, 227/70, 227/71, 227/76, 227/77, 227/144, 227/152, 227/DIG. 7, 227/156, 339/91 R, 339/128, 402/61, 402/64, 402/65, 402/80 P
• US Class Current: 606/220
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously

Abstract

An instrument, method and two-piece plastic-like fastener for surgically fastening tissue by:

(A) placing the tissue between: (1) a retainer of an absorbable material, that is located distally of the tissue and that has a hole which extends longitudinally through it; (2) an elongated rigid piercing member that is located proximally of the tissue, that extends longitudinally, and that has means on its distal end for piercing the tissue; and (3) a fastener of an absorbable material, that is also located proximally of the tissue and that has a distally extending prong which, during distal movement of the fastener, can (a) move distally through an opening pierced in the tissue by the piercing member and (b) then move distally into the retainer hole to hold the retainer and fastener together;

(B) then moving the piercing member distally so that its distal end pierces the tissue; and

(C) then moving the fastener distally so that its prong moves through the opening pierced in the tissue and into the retainer hole to hold the retainer and fastener together.

Claims

1. A surgical fastening device for fastening body tissue, which comprises:

a unitary plastic-like retainer having a longitudinal extension;

a hole extending longitudinally through the retainer and its longitudinal extension;

the retainer being adapted to be positioned on the distal side of the tissue to be fastened;

the longitudinal extension of the retainer being laterally expandable about the retainer hole; and

a unitary fastener, initially separate from the retainer, having a distally extending prong;

the prong being sufficiently rigid to pass through a hole pierced in the tissue to be fastened without additional stiffening means;

the fastener being adapted to be positioned on the proximal side of the tissue to be fastened;

a laterally extending barb being provided on a lateral surface of the prong;

the fastener being adapted to be moved distally so that the prong and its barb;

(1) move distally through an opening pierced in the tissue to be fastened, and (2) then move distally into the retainer hole, with the barb urging the longitudinal extension of the retainer to expand laterally, until the barb extends distally of the longitudinal extension of the retainer and a proximal surface of the barb non-releasably engages a laterally extending, distal surface of the longitudinal extension of the retainer about the retainer hole to non-releasably hold the fastener and retainer together and further comprising;

a channel extending longitudinally through the fastener and its prong and opening laterally outward from the prong;

a pair of barbs on the prong on laterally opposite sides of the fastener channel;

the longitudinal center line of the fastener channel;

(1) being parallel to the longitudinal center line of the retainer hole and (2) extending within the retainer hole; and

the fastener channel being adapted to allow a piercing member and the fastener to move longitudinally with respect to each other, such that;

(1) the piercing member can move distally within and with respect to the fastener channel to pierce a hole through the tissue to be fastened, and (2) the fastener and its prong slide distally along the piercing member, such that the prong passes through the hole pierced in the tissue and into the retainer hole to non-releasably hold the fastener and retainer together.

2. The device of claim 1 which comprises:

two parallel prongs on laterally opposite ends of the fastener; and

two parallel longitudinal extensions on laterally opposite ends of the retainer;

each longitudinal extension being laterally expandable about a retainer hole.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each longitudinal extension of the retainer is on the proximal side of the retainer.

4. The device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each longitudinal extension of the retainer includes at least one longitudinal slit, communicating with its retainer hole and a lateral surface of the longitudinal extension of the retainer.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein each longitudinal extension of the retainer includes two of the longitudinal slits on opposite sides of the longitudinal extension of the retainer.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein a distal surface of the prong on the fastener is a distal surface of the barb on the prong and the distal end of the fastener channel lies within the distal surface of the barb.

7. The device of claim 1 which further comprises:

two parallel prongs on laterally opposite ends of the fastener;

the fastener channels in the prongs extending laterally outward of the prongs in laterally opposite directions; and

two parallel longitudinal extensions on laterally opposite ends of the retainer;

each longitudinal extension being laterally expandable about a retainer hole.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein each longitudinal extension of the retainer is on the proximal side of the retainer.

9. The device of claim 1, claim 2, claim 7 or, claim 8 wherein the lateral cross-section of each longitudinal extension of the retainer and each prong of the fastener is annular.

10. The device of claim 1, claim 2, claim 7 or, claim 8 wherein a distal surface of each prong on the fastener is a distal surface of the barb on the prong.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the lateral cross-section of each longitudinal extension of the retainer, each prong of the fastener and each retainer hole is annular and the longitudinal cross-section of each barb is tapered.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a plastic-like fastener.