Absorbable fastener for hernia mesh fixation

A fastener applier comprising:

• a body;
• a trigger supported on the body;
• an actuator assembly transmitting motion from the trigger and including a rotary assembly supported in the body and being operatively connected to the trigger, the actuator assembly including:
• a hub;
• a flexible arm extending from the hub wherein the flexible arm rotates upon trigger actuation;
• and
• a drive tooth projecting from the flexible arm;
• and
• a gear rotatably supported in the body and being operatively associated with the drive tooth of the flexible arm, the gear defining a groove formed in a surface thereof for receipt of the drive tooth, the groove is configured such that rotation of the actuator assembly in a first direction causes the drive tooth to engage an end surface of the groove and transmit rotation to the gear, and such that rotation of the actuator assembly in a second direction, opposite the first direction, disengages the drive tooth from the groove of the gear and permits rotation of the actuator assembly independent of the gear.

A fastener applier comprising:

• a body;
• an outer tube extending from the body;
• a drive rotatably supported in the outer tube and in the body;
• a trigger supported on the body;
• and
• a gear system supported in the body and interconnecting the trigger and the drive, the gear system being configured to impart uni-directional rotation to the drive during any portion of a firing stroke of the trigger and during any portion of a return stroke of the trigger.

A fastener applier comprising:

• a body;
• an outer tube extending from the body;
• a drive rotatably supported in the outer tube and in the body;
• a trigger supported on the body;
• a first actuation member supported in the body and engaged with the trigger, wherein any portion of a firing stroke of the trigger imparts a movement of the first actuation member in a first direction, and wherein any portion of a return stoke of the trigger imparts a movement of the first actuation member in a second direction;
• and
• a second actuation member supported in the body and engaged with the first actuation member, wherein movement of the first actuation member in the first direction imparts a movement of the second actuation member in a second direction, and wherein movement of the first actuation member in the second direction imparts no movement to the second actuation member.