Spiral surgical tack

• US 6,036,701 A
• Filed: 03/11/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rosenman, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/814,691
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/157, 606/158, 606/213, 606/232, 606/73, 623/13, 411/392, 411/425, 24/711.2, 24/711.3
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/869 characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 25/0005 of the helical wire type threaded wire-inserts F16B37/12

Abstract

A surgical tack for use in surgical procedures. The surgical tack has a base member and a distally extending spiral member having a distal piercing point. The spiral member forms a spiral. The tack may be used to fasten tissue, sutures, or medical devices to tissue.

Claims

1. A tack for use in a surgical procedure, the tack comprising:

a base member having a substantially flat top surface and a substantially flat bottom surface;

a spiral member extending from the bottom of the base member, said spiral member having at least one outer edge, the spiral member having a distal end, wherein the spiral member forms a spiral, said spiral comprising at least one coil, a longitudinal axis and an interior passage;

piercing means extending from the distal end of the spiral member; and

,

a surcgical suture mounted thereto, wherein the spiral member has a substantial semi-cylindrical cross section and wherein the coil has a circular configuration, and wherein the piercing means comprises a point extending from the distal end of the spiral member.

2. The tack of claim 1 wherein the spiral comprises a plurality of circular coils wherein the coils decrease in diameter along the longitudinal axis of the spiral.

3. The tack of claim 1 wherein the point extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spiral.

4. The tack of claim 1 wherein the point extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spiral.

5. The tack of claim 1 further comprising means mounted in the base member to facilitate driving the tack into tissue.

6. The tack of claim 5 wherein the driving means comprises a cavity in the top surface of the base member configured to accept a driving tool means.

7. The tack of claim 1 wherein the base member has a circular configuration.

8. A method of surgically fastening tissue comprising:

inserting a surgical tack into one side of a section of tissue, wherein the tack comprises;

a proximal base member having a substantially flat top surface and a substantially flat bottom surface and a surgical suture mounted to the top surface;

a distal spiral member extending from the bottom of the base member, said spiral member having at least one outer edge, the spiral member having a distal end, wherein the spiral member forms a spiral, said spiral comprising at least one coil, a longitudinal axis and an interior passage; and

,

piercing means extending from the distal end of the spiral member; and

,

manipulating the surgical tack such that at least one coil is secure in the tissue.