Surgical fastener assemblies and methods

An assembly for delivery of a fastener, the assembly comprising:

• a fastener cartridge having a body with a proximal end, and a distal end, the proximal end configured to be removably coupled to a distal end of an apparatus to deliver a fastener coupled to the cartridge, the cartridge comprising:
• a pair of spikes each having a spike proximal end coupled to the distal end of the cartridge, and a spike distal end extending from the distal end of the cartridge, the spike proximal end having a transverse dimension that is smaller than a corresponding transverse dimension of the distal end of the cartridge body such that a shoulder is defined at the spike proximal end, the shoulder configured to abut a head of a fastener received over the spikes;
• a fastener received over the spikes, the fastener comprising:
• a first elongated shaft having a first shaft length extending from a first shaft proximal end to a first shaft distal end, and defining an internal first passage extending along the first shaft length;
• a second elongated shaft having a second shaft length extending from a second shaft proximal end to a second shaft distal end, and defining an internal second passage extending along the second shaft length;
• an enlarged head coupled to the proximal ends of the first shaft and the second shaft, the had abutting the shoulder of the cartridge;
• a plurality of first barbs each extending along a portion of the first shaft length, each first barb having a leading edge and trailing edge spaced from the proximal end of the first shaft, the leading edge of each first barb being disposed between the trailing edge of that first barb and the first shaft distal end;
• a plurality of second barbs each extending along a portion of the second shaft length, each second barb having a leading edge and trailing edge spaced from the proximal end of the second shaft, the leading edge of each second barb being disposed between the trailing edge of that second barb and the second shaft distal end;
• and
• where the shafts, head, and barbs are defined by a unitary piece of polymer,
• a flexible, fibrous implant having a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of lateral edges extending between the first and second end edges, where the implant is substantially planar when in a flattened state in which the first end edge is separated from the second end edge under a first tension of 5 Newtons (N) applied perpendicular to each of the end edges, and in which the lateral edges are separated from each other under a tension of 5 N applied perpendicular to each of the lateral edges;
• an elongated, tubular shield disposed over the implant, at least a portion of the fastener, and at least a portion of the cartridge;
• where the at least one of the first and second shafts of the fastener extends through the implant at a point that is closer to the first end edge than to the second end edge, a first portion of the implant extends proximally around at least a portion of the cartridge, and the first portion of the implant is disposed between the cartridge and the shield.