# US 11,076,851 B2 · Medical implant delivery system and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,851 B2 - Document ID: US11076851B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/170,603 - Filed: 2018-10-25 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-04 - Assignees: Rotation Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Rotation Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas A. Westling; Nathaniel Zenz-Olson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076851B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/0682: {for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/064: Surgical staples, {i.e. penetrating the tissue} - A61B 17/0642: {for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone} - A61B 17/10: for applying or removing wound clamps {, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple (A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068)}; Wound clamp magazines - A61B 90/03: {Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety} - A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras} - A61B 2017/0053: {Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools} - A61B 2017/0688: {Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system - A61F 2/0805: {Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A fastener delivery tool configured to deliver a fastener into tissue of a patient including a shaft, a handle assembly connected to a proximal end of the shaft, one or more prongs connected to a distal end of the shaft, and a fastener push rod received at least partially within the shaft, wherein the fastener push rod is connected to the handle assembly, wherein the fastener push rod is moveable relative to the shaft, and wherein the fastener push rod includes one or more detents configured to be received within a passageway of a fastener and secure the fastener to the fastener push rod with friction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener delivery system comprising: a fastener delivery tool comprising: a pilot member having a distal end and a pair of prongs extending from the distal end of the pilot member so that the pair of prongs forms pilot holes when the pair of prongs are pressed against target tissue, and a fastener push rod disposed within a lumen of the pilot member and moveable relative thereto, the fastener push rod including a shaft and first and second arms, wherein proximal portions of the first and second arms extend parallel to one another as they extend in a distal direction from the shaft; and a single-piece fastener carried by the fastener push rod, the fastener comprising a first fluke having a proximal end and a distal end, and a second fluke having a proximal end and distal end, a first arm extending from the proximal end of the first fluke, a second arm extending from the proximal end of the second fluke, and a bridge extending between the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener delivery system of claim 1, wherein each of the first fluke and the second fluke define a passageway extending therein, with each passageway defining an interior surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fastener delivery system of claim 2, wherein the first arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the first fluke and the second arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the second fluke. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fastener delivery system of claim 3, further comprising a fastener loader which defines a loading channel sized and configured to retain the fastener therein prior to loading the fastener on the fastener push rod of the fastener delivery tool, wherein the first and second arms of the fastener push rod enter the loading channel of the fastener loader to insert the first arm of the fastener push rod within the passageway of the first fluke and insert the second arm of the fastener push rod within the passageway of the second fluke. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fastener delivery system of claim 4, wherein the fastener loader defines a plurality of loading channels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fastener delivery system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of loading channels includes one fastener. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fastener delivery system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of loading channels includes one fastener holder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The fastener delivery system of claim 4, wherein the first arm of the fastener push rod frictionally engages the interior surface of the passageway of the first fluke and the second arm of the fastener push rod frictionally engages the interior surface of the passageway of the second with sufficient frictional force such that withdrawal of the first and second arms of the fastener push rod from the fastener loader results in the fastener being withdrawn from the loading channel of the fastener loader with the fastener delivery tool. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fastener delivery system of claim 1, wherein the pilot member includes a tubular member defining the lumen, and wherein the pair of prongs are a monolithic portion of the tubular member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fastener delivery system of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of prongs comprise a curved inner surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fastener delivery system of claim 10, wherein the first fluke of the fastener engages the curved inner surface of one of the pair of prongs and the second fluke of the fastener engages the curved inner surface of the other of the pair of prongs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fastener delivery system of claim 1, wherein each prong of the pair of prongs tapers toward a distal end thereof. ### Claim 13 A fastener delivery system comprising: a fastener delivery tool comprising: a pilot member having a distal end and a pair of prongs extending from the distal end of the pilot member so that the pair of prongs forms pilot holes when the pair of prongs are pressed against target tissue, and a fastener push rod disposed within a lumen of the pilot member and moveable relative thereto; and a fastener carried by the fastener push rod, the fastener comprising a first fluke having a proximal end and a distal end, and a second fluke having a proximal end and distal end, a first arm extending from the proximal end of the first fluke, a second arm extending from the proximal end of the second fluke, and a bridge extending between the first arm and the second arm; wherein each of the first fluke and the second fluke define a passageway extending therein, with each passageway defining an interior surface; wherein the fastener push rod comprises first and second arms, and wherein the first arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the first fluke and the second arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the second fluke; wherein each of the first and second arms of the fastener push rod comprises a detent, wherein when the first arm of the fastener push rod is received within the passageway of the first fluke the detent of the first arm of the fastener push rod presses against the interior surface of the passageway of the first fluke to retain the first fluke of the fastener on the first arm of the fastener push rod by friction, and wherein when the second arm of the fastener push rod is received within the passageway of the second fluke the detent of the second arm of the fastener push rod presses against the interior surface of the passageway of the second fluke to retain the second fluke of the fastener on the second arm of the fastener push rod by friction. ### Claim 14 A fastener delivery system comprising: a fastener delivery tool comprising: a pilot member including a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and first and second prongs extending from the distal end so that the first and second prongs form pilot holes in target tissue when engages therewith, and a fastener push rod disposed within slidably disposed within the lumen of the pilot member, the fastener push rod including a shaft and first and second arms, wherein proximal portions of the first and second arms extend parallel to one another as they extend in a distal direction from the shaft; and a single-piece fastener carried by the fastener push rod, the fastener comprising a first fluke having a proximal end and a distal end, and a second fluke having a proximal end and distal end, a first arm extending from the proximal end of the first fluke, a second arm extending from the proximal end of the second fluke, and a bridge extending between the first arm and the second arm; wherein the first fluke engages a surface of the first prong and the second fluke engages a surface of the second prong during delivery of the first and second flukes into the pilot holes formed by the first and second prongs, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fastener delivery system of claim 14, wherein each of the first fluke and the second fluke define a passageway extending therein, with each passageway defining an interior surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fastener delivery system of claim 15, wherein the first arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the first fluke and the second arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the second fluke. ### Claim 17 A fastener delivery system comprising: a fastener delivery tool comprising: a pilot member including a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and first and second prongs extending from the distal end so that the first and second prongs form pilot holes in target tissue when engages therewith, and a fastener push rod disposed within slidably disposed within the lumen of the pilot member; and a fastener carried by the fastener push rod, the fastener comprising a first fluke having a proximal end and a distal end, and a second fluke having a proximal end and distal end, a first arm extending from the proximal end of the first fluke, a second arm extending from the proximal end of the second fluke, and a bridge extending between the first arm and the second arm; wherein the first fluke engages a surface of the first prong and the second fluke engages a surface of the second prong during delivery of the first and second flukes into the pilot holes formed by the first and second prongs, respectively; wherein each of the first fluke and the second fluke define a passageway extending therein, with each passageway defining an interior surface; wherein the fastener push rod comprises first and second arms, and wherein the first arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the first fluke and the second arm of the fastener push rod is configured to be received within the passageway of the second fluke; wherein each of the first and second arms of the fastener push rod comprises a detent, wherein when the first arm of the fastener push rod is received within the passageway of the first fluke the detent of the first arm of the fastener push rod presses against the interior surface of the passageway of the first fluke to retain the first fluke of the fastener on the first arm of the fastener push rod by friction, and wherein when the second arm of the fastener push rod is received within the passageway of the second fluke the detent of the second arm of the fastener push rod presses against the interior surface of the passageway of the second fluke to retain the second fluke of the fastener on the second arm of the fastener push rod by friction.