Extremely long wire fasteners for use in minimally invasive surgery and means and methods for handling those fasteners

2) A fastener for use in surgery comprising:

• a body having a base and a leg extending from said base;
• said body having a width dimension;
• said leg having a pointed end, an unformed length dimension measured from said base toward said pointed end, and a formed length dimension measured between said base and an end, with the end located between the pointed end and said base;
• and the unformed length being greater than the formed length.

5) A wire fastener for use in minimally invasive surgery comprising:

• a U-shaped body having a base and two legs extending from said crown;
• said body having a width dimension measured from one leg to the other;
• each leg having a pointed end and a length dimension measured from said base to the pointed end thereof;
• the length dimension of each leg being greater than said width dimension by a factor of five or more.

6) A fastener for use in minimally invasive surgery comprising:

• a body having a base and a leg extending from said base;
• said body having a width dimension;
• said leg having a pointed end, an unformed length dimension measured from said base to said pointed end, and a formed length dimension measured between said base and an end, with the end located between the pointed end and said base and being defined by cutting the leg;
• and the unformed length being greater than the formed length.

21) A method of placing a fastener in a patient during surgery comprising:

• providing a fastener for use in surgery having a body having a base and a leg extending from said base, said leg having a pointed end and a length measured from said base, said length being indeterminate;
• locating the fastener inside a patient on one side of a tissue being operated on;
• driving a pointed end of the fastener through the tissue;
• grasping the leg after the leg has penetrated the tissue;
• tensioning the leg and moving the base of the fastener against the tissue;
• immobilizing the leg on the other side of the tissue;
• engaging the end of the immobilized leg;
• and
• bending the leg to force the end back towards the base of the fastener.

24) A method of placing a fastener in a patient during surgery comprising:

• providing a fastener for use in surgery having a body having a base and a leg extending from said base, said leg having a point on one end thereof and a length measured from said base, said length being indeterminate;
• locating the fastener inside a patient on one side of a tissue being operated on;
• driving a pointed end of the fastener through the tissue;
• engaging the fastener only at the leg after the leg has penetrated the tissue;
• tensioning the engaged leg and moving the fastener until the base of the fastener moves against the tissue;
• engaging the end of the immobilized leg;
• and
• bending the leg to force the end back towards the base of the fastener.

25) A method of placing a fastener in a patient during surgery comprising:

• providing a fastener for use in surgery having a body having a base and a leg extending from said base, said leg having a point on one end thereof and a length measured from said base, said length being indeterminate;
• locating the fastener inside a patient on one side of a tissue being operated on;
• driving a pointed end of the fastener through the tissue;
• using only the leg of the fastener, moving the fastener into position and forming the fastener.

26) A method of placing a fastener in a patient during minimally invasive surgery comprising:

• providing a fastener having a body with a formable portion and having a base and a leg extending from said base;
• said body having a width dimension;
• said leg having a pointed end, an unformed length dimension measured from said base to said pointed end, and a formed length dimension measured between said base and an end, with the end located between the pointed end and said base and being defined by cutting the leg;
• and the unformed length being greater than the formed length;
• locating the fastener inside a patient on one side of a tissue being operated on;
• driving the pointed end through the tissue;
• grasping the leg after the leg has penetrated the tissue;
• tensioning the leg and moving the base of the fastener against the tissue;
• immobilizing the leg on the other side of the tissue;
• cutting the leg to form the end;
• engaging the end of the immobilized leg;
• and
• bending the leg to force the end back towards the base of the fastener.

33) A tool for use in placing a fastener during surgery comprising:

• a body;
• a handle on one end of the body of said tool;
• a track on the body of the tool for slidably holding said fastener on the body of said tool;
• means for forcing the fastener along the body of the tool toward tissue being penetrated;
• means for guiding the pointed end of said fastener through a patient's tissue;
• means for grasping the pointed end after the pointed end have exited the tissue;
• and
• means for drawing the base of the fastener against the tissue.

37) In combination with a fastener for use in surgery which comprises:

• a body having a base and a leg extending from said base, said leg having a pointed end and a length measured from said base, said length being indeterminate, a tool comprising:
• a body;
• a handle on one end of the body of said tool;
• a track on the body of the tool for slidably holding said fastener on the body of said tool;
• means for forcing the fastener along the body of the tool toward tissue being penetrated;
• means for guiding the pointed end of said fastener through a patient's tissue;
• means for grasping the pointed end after the pointed end have exited the tissue;
• and
• means for drawing the base of the fastener against the tissue.

38) In combination with a fastener for use in minimally invasive surgery which comprises:

• a body having a base and a leg extending from said base;
• said body having a width dimension;
• said leg having a pointed end, an unformed length dimension measured from said base to said pointed end, and a formed length dimension measured between said base and an end, with the end located between the pointed end and said base and being defined by cutting the leg;
• and the unformed length being greater than the formed length, said tool comprising:
• a body;
• a handle on one end of the body of said tool;
• a track on the body of the tool for slidably holding said fastener on said body;
• means for forcing the fastener along the body of the tool toward tissue being penetrated;
• means for guiding the pointed end of said fastener through a patient's tissue;
• means for grasping the pointed end after the pointed end have exited the tissue;
• and
• means for drawing the fastener leg out of the patient.

46) A termination tool for use in placing a fastener during surgery comprising:

• a body;
• a handle on one end of the body of said termination tool;
• means on the body of the termination tool for immobilizing the fastener;
• means on the body of the termination tool for cutting the leg of said fastener;
• and
• means on the body of said termination tool for bending the cut leg toward the base of the fastener.

48) In combination with a fastener for use in minimally invasive surgery which comprises:

• a body having a base and a leg extending from said base;
• said body having a width dimension;
• said leg having a pointed end, an unformed length dimension measured from said base to said pointed end, and a formed length dimension measured between said base and an end, with the end located between the pointed end and said base and being defined by cutting the leg;
• and the unformed length being greater than the formed length, a termination tool comprising:
• a body;
• a handle on one end of the body of said termination tool;
• means on the body of the termination tool for immobilizing the fastener;
• means on the body of the termination tool for cutting the leg of said fastener;
• and
• means on the body of said termination tool for bending the cut leg toward the base of the fastener.