Surgical helical fastener with applicator

• US 6,884,248 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Hodges, Brian A., Lunsford, John, Bolduc, Lee, Kramer, Thomas A., McCoy, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/330,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 606/142, 606/143
• US Class Current: 606/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled for sutures A61B2017/06171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06171 helically or spirally coiled for needles A61B2017/06076
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/901 Surgical clip appliers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/902 Surgical clips or staples
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/91 Polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4695 Wire curved or bent

Abstract

A helical fastener having a high retentive surface area is provided and has a first end for enhancing penetration into tissue and a second end comprising a coil sectioning a diameter of the fastener for receiving longitudinal and rotational forces. The helical fasteners are attached to body tissue by a fastener applicator having a proximal portion comprising a handle and an actuator and an elongate distal portion for housing a plurality of fasteners. A transferring action of the actuator provides longitudinal and rotational movement of the fasteners out of the distal portion and into body tissue.

Claims

1. An applicator for attaching fasteners to body tissue comprising:

a distal portion having an elongate outer tube, a connecting end and a terminal end;

a proximal portion having a handle and an actuator, the proximal portion attached to the connecting end of the distal portion; and

a rotator for receiving a plurality of fasteners and for cooperating with the actuator, the rotator configured to reside within and extend substantially the length of the outer tube and

means for threading and ejecting the fastener out of the distal end.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the threading and ejecting means is a thread form contained in an interior of the terminal end for engaging the plurality of fasteners.

3. The applicator of claim 2, wherein the thread form is an interlock spring fixedly retained in the interior of the terminal end.

4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the threading and ejecting means is a nose piece attached to the terminal end, the nose piece having structure projecting perpendicularly toward a longitudinal axis of the outer tube for engaging the plurality of fasteners.

5. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the distal portion and the proximal portion are releasably secured together.

6. The applicator of claim 5, wherein the distal portion is disposable and the proximal portion is reusable.

7. An applicator for attaching fasteners to body tissue comprising:

a distal portion having an elongate outer tube, a connecting end and a terminal end;

a proximal portion having a handle and an actuator, the proximal portion attached to the connecting end of the distal portion and the actuator including;

a lever having a first and a second end, the lever pivotably attached about a midpoint to the handle, the first end of the lever adapted to be gripped by hand, a lead screw rotatably attached to an interior of the handle, a nut driver, the second end of the lever pivotably attached to the nut driver, the nut driver adapted to travel along the lead screw, thereby turning the lead screw, the lead screw attached to the rotator so that as the lever is depressed by hand the nut driver will travel along the lead screw toward the rotator thereby turning the rotator in the process;

a rotator for receiving a plurality of fasteners and for cooperating with the actuator, the rotator configured to reside within and extend substantially the length of the outer tube; and

means for threading and ejecting the fastener out of the terminal end.

8. The applicator of claim 7, wherein the lead screw is a high helix lead screw.

9. The applicator of claim 8, the lever has a midsection extension.

10. The applicator of claim 9, further comprising gear teeth formed within the interior of the handle.

11. The applicator of claim 10, further comprising a spring loaded pawl pivotally attached to the midsection extension for engaging the gear teeth.