Surgical fastener with predetermined resorption rate
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsRalph Robert Corradi, David N. Fowler, Christopher J. Criscuolo, Earl Zergiebel, Michael Bettuchi, Frank J. Viola
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A resorbable screw fastener and a method of firing with an applicator capable of applying a surgical fastener to tissue in order to form tissue connection to secure objects to tissue, the fastener including a body portion having a helical thread, a head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion. The resorbable screw fastener is 100% resorbed in vivo during a period of time ranging from about 14 days to about one year after implantation.
Claims19
1-1. (canceled)
An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector comprising:
- an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;
- an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube;
- a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly;
- and
- a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly.
An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector being selectively connectable to a handle assembly, the end effector comprising:
- an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;
- an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube, the inner tube assembly including:
- a cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a torque ring supported on the distal end of the cylindrical body, the torque ring configured to engage a screw fastener;
- and
- a retaining ring in axial alignment with the torque ring;
- a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly, the cam spiral sub-assembly including:
- a screw fastener pusher configured to push a proximal-most screw fastener in a distal direction;
- and
- a feed spring configured to act on the screw fastener pusher;
- wherein the feed spring biases the screw fastener pusher in the distal direction to maintain a force against the screw fastener;
- and
- a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.