Mesh tissue fasteners

• US 4,548,202 A
• Filed: 06/20/1983
• Issued: 10/22/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Duncan, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US06/506,142
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 128/346, 128/337, 128/335, 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 128/330, 128/325, 128/326, 128/92 B, 3/1, 227/DIG. 1, 227/15-18, 227/77, 411/469, 411/451, 411/360, 411/501, 411/506, 411/362-364, 411/455-457, 24/543, 24/518, 24/614, 24/623, 24/703, 24/297, 24/150 FP, 24/16 PB, 24/697, 24/580, 24/581, 24/584, 24/453, 24/30.5 P, 24/537, 24/515, 24/513 , 24/503, 24/94-96
• US Class Current: 606/220
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body

Abstract

Various fasteners are provided to hold together portions of mammalian tissue. The fasteners include fastening members with spaced-apart legs adapted to be passed through the tissue portions. One embodiment of the fastener has a mesh-like receiver around each leg for engaging the legs of another identical fastening member inserted from an opposite side of the tissue portions. In other embodiments, the receiver is a separate element and is applied to a side of the tissue portions opposite the fastening member to engage the legs of the fastening member. The receiver may have a variety of forms. A number of structures are disclosed for effecting engagement of the fastening member legs with the receiver.

Claims

1. A fastener adapted to hold together, in conjunction with one or more other similar fasteners, two portions of mammalian tissue, such as are defined by a wound or incision, to facilitate healing of the wound or incision, said fastener comprising:

a fastening member with at least two spaced-apart legs each having a distal end adapted to pass through the tissue portions, each said leg defining on its exterior along at least a portion of its length a plurality of barbs angled rearwardly away from the leg distal end; and

a mesh of flexible filaments, said mesh having a generally triangular configuration, said mesh extending between adjacent legs and said mesh extending outwardly from, and generally normal to, each of said legs to define a leg receiving area whereby the legs of one of the fastening members may be passed through the tissue portions from one side of said wound or incision with the mesh being disposed against one of said tissue portions and whereby the legs of another of the fastening members may be inserted through the tissue portions from the other side of said wound or incision with the mesh of said other fastening member lying substantially against the other of said tissue portions so that at least one leg of each of said fastening members penetrates the mesh of the other fastening member with the leg barbs engaging both the mesh and the adjacent tissue portions so as to inhibit relative movement of said fastening members at least in the disengaging directions.

2. A fastener adapted to hold together, in conjunction with one or more other similar fasteners, two portions of mammalian tissue, such as are defined by a wound or incision, to facilitate healing of the wound or incision, said fastener comprising:

a fastening member with at least two spaced-apart legs each having a distal end adapted to pass through the tissue portions, each said leg defining on its exterior along at least a portion of its length a plurality of barbs angled rearwardly away from the leg distal end; and

each of said legs having a mesh of flexible filaments extending around said leg, said mesh having a generally circular configuration, said mesh extending outwardly from, and generaly normal to said leg to define a leg receiving area whereby the legs of one of the fastening members may be passed through the tissue portions from one side of said wound or incision with the mesh being disposed against one of said tissue portions and whereby the legs of another of the fastening members may be inserted through the tissue portions from the other side of said wound or incision with the mesh of said other fastening member lying substantially against the other of said tissue portions so that at least one leg of each of said fastening members penetrates the mesh of the other fastening member with the leg barbs engaging both the mesh and the adjacent tissue portions so as to inhibit relative movement of said fastening members at least in the disengaging directions.