Apparatus and method for binding a first layer of material to a second layer of material

• US 5,893,856 A
• Filed: 06/12/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jacob, Pamela A., Hoyle, Edward F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THUY D
• Application Number:
  US08/661,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/213, 606/219, 606/220, 606/221, 606/64, 606/72, 606/75, 606/78, 411/446-450, 411/456-460
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• 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 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread

Abstract

A fastener for binding a layer of mammalian soft tissue to a mammalian bone includes a body portion for disposition in a bore in the bone, the body portion having means thereon for resisting movement of the body portion from the bore. The fastener further includes gripper portions extending from the body portion and extendible through the layer of tissue toward the bone to bind the tissue to the bone. The invention further contemplates a method for making the fastener, a method for binding layers of material together using the fastener, a tool for setting the fastener, and tools and fasteners in combination.

Claims

1. A tool for setting a fastener to bind together a first layer of material overlaid by a second layer of material, the first layer having a bore therein transverse to a surface thereof on which the second layer is disposed, and said fastener comprising a body portion having means thereon for locking said body portion in the bore, and legs extending from said body portion and self-biased to extend radially outwardly from said body portion, and distally through the second layer towards the first layer, said tool comprising:

a housing portion including a tubular stem and at one end thereof an enlarged housing portion defining a chamber;

a cannula disposed in said stem, said cannula having a collar extending outwardly from a proximal end thereof, and having at a distal end thereof a penetration point, said collar being disposed in said chamber and adapted to be adjacent a distal wall of said enlarged housing portion; and

a plunger having a rod portion at least in part disposed in said cannula and in part adapted to be disposed in said chamber, a flange portion extending outwardly from said rod portion in said chamber and adapted to be disposed adjacent a proximal wall of said housing, and a handle portion fixed to a proximal end of said rod and extending through an opening in said housing;

said cannula being adapted to receive and retain said fastener with said fastener body portion disposed proximate said distal end of said cannula and said fastener legs extending proximally in said cannula;

said tool being movable axially and distally to move said cannula penetration point through the second layer into alignment with the bore;

said plunger being movable axially and distally to engage said fastener and to move said fastener into the bore and to move said flange into contact with said cannula collar in said chamber;

said plunger flange portion having locking means thereon for interlocking said plunger flange portion and said cannula collar upon said contact;

said plunger being movable proximally in said housing to draw said locking means and thereby said cannula proximally to leave said fastener body portion in the bore and withdraw said cannula from the bore and from the second layer to release said fastener legs for said self-biased movement outwardly and distally through the second layer.

2. A fastener for binding a first layer of material to a second layer of material overlying and covering the first layer of material, said fastener comprising:

a unitary undivided body portion for disposition in a bore in the first layer, said body portion having a cross-sectional configuration, a longitudinal axis, and means thereon for resisting movement of said body portion from the bore, said means comprising barbs having free ends which extend toward the second layer; and

gripper portions comprising elongated wire-like legs extending from said body portion and having needle pointed free ends, said legs being (1) conformable through confinement to an axial projection of said cross-sectional configuration, and (2) self-biased for extension, upon removal of said confinement, radially outwardly from, and parallel to, said axial projection of said cross-sectional configuration, through said second layer, such that each said leg extends to a position in said second layer wherein its free end is disposed proximate said first layer to bind said second layer to said first layer.