Device for applying a meniscal staple

An endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical instrument for applying a surgical fastener to torn tissue, said fastener including a first leg and a second leg joined by a flexible material, said instrument comprising:

• a handle mechanism;
• an elongated body portion extending from said handle mechanism;
• means positioned at a distal end of said body portion for releasably engaging said first leg of said fastener and said second leg of said fastener;
• a first shaft member associated with said handle mechanism for advancing said first leg of said fastener into said tissue;
• a second shaft member associated with said handle mechanism for advancing said second leg of said fastener into said tissue subsequent to advancement of said first leg;
• and
• means associated with said handle mechanism for releasing said first and second shaft members to retract said engaging means to release said fastener, said fastener being positioned in said tissue.

A surgical instrument for applying a surgical fastener to torn tissue, said fastener including a first leg and a second leg joined by a flexible material, said instrument comprising:

• a handle mechanism including at least one movable member;
• a body portion extending from said handle mechanism;
• means for releasably engaging said fastener positioned at an end of said body portion remote from said handle mechanism;
• an advancing mechanism positioned in and extending through said body portion for advancing said first leg of said fastener into said tissue, and subsequently advancing said second leg of said fastener into said tissue after advancement of said first leg, said advancing mechanism being actuated upon movement of said handle mechanism.

In a surgical instrument having a handle and a body portion extending from said handle, the improvement comprising:

• fastener means including a first leg and a second leg joined by a flexible material disposed at a distal end of said body portion;
• means positioned at said distal end of said body portion for releasably engaging said fastener means;
• a first shaft member associated with said handle mechanism and extending through said body portion for advancing said engaging means to drive said first leg into body tissue;
• and
• a second shaft member associated with said handle mechanism and extending through said body portion for advancing said engaging means to drive said second leg into body tissue subsequent to advancement of said first leg.

A surgical instrument for applying a surgical fastener to torn tissue, said fastener including a first leg and a second leg joined by a flexible material;

• said instrument comprising:
• a handle;
• an elongated body portion having at least one inner rod within an outer tube and defining a longitudinal axis and extending at a proximal end from said handle, said. fastener being positioned at a distal end of said body portion;
• a needle mechanism at said distal end of said body portion for releasably engaging said fastener, said needle mechanism having a tip configured to penetrate tissue to facilitate insertion of said fastener into tissue;
• an advancing mechanism disposed in said handle including a ratchet mechanism to permit incremental linear advancement of said needle mechanism along said longitudinal axis upon movement of said handle, said inner rod of said body portion coupling said advancing mechanism to said needle mechanism;
• and
• a release member for disengaging said ratchet mechanism to permit retraction of said inner rod and said needle mechanism after said fastener is positioned in tissue.

A fastener applying device, comprising:

• a movable handle;
• an elongated member extending distally from the movable handle;
• at least one rack and pawl mechanism operably associated with the handle;
• and
• at least one shaft operably connected to a respective rack and pawl mechanism, the at least one shaft extending within the elongated member and having a distal end configured to receive a fastener;
• wherein movement of the handle causes movement of the at least one shaft within the elongated member and wherein the at least one rack and pawl mechanism includes first and second rack members and pawl members, and the at least one shaft includes first and second shafts.

A fastener applying device for applying a fastener to torn tissue, the fastener including a first leg and a second leg joined by a flexible material, the device comprising:

• a movable handle;
• a first shaft operably connected to the movable handle and having a distal end configured to engage the first leg of the fastener;
• a second shaft operably connected to the movable handle and having a distal end configured to engage the second leg of the fastener
• wherein the first shaft is movable independent of the second shaft to move the first leg of the fastener distally independent of the second leg of the fastener.

A fastener applying device for applying surgical fasteners having a pair of tissue penetrating leg members joined to each other by a flexible portion, said device comprising:

• a movable handle;
• an elongated member extending from the movable handle;
• first and second shaft members slidably disposed in said elongated member;
• an advancing mechanism disposed between and operably connected to said shaft members and said movable handle to permit selective advancement of either the first shaft member or both the first and second shaft members;
• wherein the shaft members terminate at a distal end of said elongated member remote from the movable handle in a fastener engaging surface, such that movement of said movable handle causes said advancing mechanism to move said shaft member and the fastener engaging surface towards the distal end of the elongated member to drive a fastener into tissue.