Multiple bias surgical fastener

• US 7,896,892 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Doan, Nga T., Nguyen, John, Schaller, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Julian W
• Application Number:
  US10/408,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20030191481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,889 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/153, 606/157, 606/158, 606/191, 606219-221, 606/200, 606/78, 29/34.D, 298/968, 294/022.1, 24/673, 24/675, 128/830, 128/831, 267/166, 267/168, 267/177, 623/1.18
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06009 having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06171 helically or spirally coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49865 by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]

Abstract

A surgical fastener comprising a clip movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a biasing member contacting the clip and biasing the clip to its open configuration when the biasing member is actuated. The biasing member and clip both tend to assume the closed configuration when no external forces are applied to them. A needle may be releasably attached to the clip. Methods for making the fasteners are also disclosed, in which both the clip and the biasing member are set in the closed position.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener comprising a shaped clip element self-transitionable from an open configuration to a closed configuration, and a shaped double coil exteriorly coiled about and surrounding at least a portion of said clip element and movable between said open configuration and said closed configuration, each of said clip element and said coil being shaped to assume said closed configuration when in a free state, wherein said clip element possesses a memory set shape of said closed configuration apart from said coil.

2. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein said double coil comprises Nitinol.

3. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein said closed configuration includes said clip element forming a single loop.

4. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein said shaped double coil includes first and second wires exteriorly coiled side-by-side about said at least a portion of said clip.

5. The surgical fastener of claim 4, wherein a diameter of said first wire is the same as a diameter of said second wire.

6. The surgical fastener of claim 4, wherein an outer diameter of coil windings of said first wire is the same as an outer diameter of coil windings of said second wire.

7. The surgical fastener of claim 4, wherein each of said first and second wires comprises Nitinol.

8. A surgical fastener comprising a shaped clip element movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and a shaped coil comprising more than two wires, said shaped coil surrounding at least a portion of said clip element such that said shaped coil is exteriorly exposed relative to said portion and self-transitionable from said open configuration to said closed configuration, each of said clip element and said coil being shaped to assume said closed configuration when in a free state, wherein said clip element possesses a memory set shape of said closed configuration apart from said coil.

9. The surgical fastener of claim 8, wherein said coil comprises Nitinol.

10. A surgical fastener comprising:

a shaped clip element self-transitionable from an open configuration to a closed configuration;

a shaped coil surrounding at least a portion of said clip element and movable between said open configuration and said closed configuration, each of said clip element and said coil being shaped to assume said closed configuration when in a free state;

wherein said clip element possesses a memory set shape of said closed configuration apart from said coil

two restraints on said clip element, said coil extending between said two restraints in said closed configuration; and

a release mechanism adapted to engage said clip element at least one of said restraints and to apply a bias force onto said coil, said coil configured to force said clip element into said open configuration in response to said bias force.

11. The surgical fastener of claim 10, wherein said coil is integrally mounted to said clip element and is adapted to remain integral with said clip element in said closed configuration.

12. The surgical fastener of claim 10, wherein said clip element comprises a wire having a shape memory which defines said closed configuration, said closed configuration being substantially spiral-shaped.

13. The surgical fastener of claim 12, wherein said wire comprises Nitinol.

14. The surgical fastener of claim 10, wherein said coil has a shape memory which substantially conforms to said closed configuration.

15. The surgical fastener of claim 14, wherein said closed configuration is substantially spiral-shaped.

16. The surgical fastener of claim 14, wherein said coil comprises Nitinol.

17. The surgical fastener of claim 10, wherein said release mechanism is configured to apply said bias force by forcing one of said restraints toward an other of said restraints.