Surgical fastener
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorSteven Howansky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical fastener comprising a fastener member and a retainer member is disclosed. The fastener member comprises a base and a pair of substantially parallel prongs extending substantially perpendicularly from the base in substantially the same direction, each prong being spaced inward from its respective end of the base, and having a prong tip configuration that allows for improved tissue penetration and thereby minimizes splaying of the prongs. Preferably, the base is the same length as the retainer member. Preferably, the prongs are substantially equidistant from the transverse centerline of the base. Also in accordance with this invention is a surgical fastener having a prong tip which maintains its improved ability to penetrate tissue after annealing of the surgical fastener.
Claims13
A surgical fastener comprising:
- a) a generally U-shaped fastener member including
- (i) a backspan, the lengthwise extent of which defines an X direction,
- (ii) at least two substantially parallel prongs extending substantially perpendicularly from said backspan and each having a tip portion terminating in a point for piercing body tissue, the lengthwise extent of said prongs defining a Y direction, said fastener member having at least one surface defining a Z direction which is transverse to both of said X and Y directions, said fastener member having at least two cutting edges located on the tip portion of said prongs and aligned in the X direction, and each prong having at least one locking surface extending from said prong in the Z direction;
- and,
- b) a retainer portion having
- (i) a base, and
- (ii) at least two columnar members attached to said base, each columnar member having an aperture to receive and retain the tip portion of a respective one of said prongs, and locking means to engage said locking surface.
A surgical fastener comprising:
- a) a generally U-shaped fastener member including
- (i) a backspan, the lengthwise extent of which defines an X direction,
- (ii) at least two substantially parallel prongs extending substantially perpendicularly from said backspan and each having a tip portion terminating in a point for piercing body tissue, the lengthwise extent of said prongs defining a Y direction, said fastener member having at least one surface defining a Z direction which is transverse to both of said X and Y directions,
- the tip portions of said prongs each having a first triangular surface facing generally outward of the fastener member in the X direction, the apex of the said first triangular surface being spaced apart from said terminal point of the prong tip by a cutting edge extending therebetween;
- and,
- b) a retainer portion having
- (i) a base, and
- (ii) at least two columnar members attached to said base, each columnar member having an aperture to receive and retain the tip portion of a respective one of said prongs, and locking means to engage said locking surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.