Applicator for wound closure device

An applicator for a wound closure device, the applicator comprising:

• a proximal handle;
• a barrel extending distally from the handle, the barrel including:
• an elongate shaft having a shaft slot, the shaft slot including a first, proximal axial portion and a second, distal axial portion, joined together by a third and intermediate, transition portion, the first axial portion being spaced in relation to the second axial portion,
• a slidable, elongate actuator having an axially oriented and generally linear actuator slot, a proximal end of the actuator slot including a protuberance extending upwardly therefrom, wherein the protuberance is aligned with the proximal portion of the shaft slot and a remainder of the actuator slot is aligned with the distal portion of shaft slot, and
• a slidable, elongate ejector rod;
• a jaw pivotably attached to a distal end of the elongate actuator, the jaw having a first pair of prongs, and the shaft distally terminating in a second pair of prongs, the first and second pairs of prongs being configured to releasably receive the wound closure device;
• and
• a single trigger attached to the handle, the single trigger being successively actuatable to four discrete positions:
• a first position configured to enable loading of the wound closure device to the first and second pairs of prongs,
• a second position configured to open the loaded wound closure device,
• a third position configured to close the loaded wound closure device, and
• a fourth position configured to release the wound closure device from the applicator.

An applicator for a wound closure device, the applicator comprising:

• a proximal handle;
• a barrel extending distally from the handle, the barrel including:
• an elongate shaft,
• a slidable, elongate actuator, and
• a slidable, elongate ejector rod;
• a jaw pivotably attached to a distal end of the elongate actuator, the jaw having a first pair of prongs, and the shaft distally terminating in a second pair of prongs, the first and second pairs of prongs being configured to releasably receive the wound closure device, and wherein the jaw further includes a pin projecting laterally outwardly from the jaw and extending through a camming slot formed in a sidewall of the elongate actuator and extending through a generally vertical, support slot formed in a sidewall of the shaft;
• and
• a single trigger attached to the handle, the single trigger being successively actuatable to four discrete positions:
• a first position configured to enable loading of the wound closure device to the first and second pairs of prongs,
• a second position configured to open the loaded wound closure device,
• a third position configured to close the loaded wound closure device, and
• a fourth position configured to release the wound closure device from the applicator.