Fastener delivery and deployment mechanism and method for placing the fastener in minimally invasive surgery

A fastener delivery and deployment mechanism for use in placing fasteners into tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprising:

• A) a base having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
• B) an operating mechanism on said proximal end;
• C) a fastener storage and deploying mechanism on said distal end including means for holding fasteners, means for storing a suture, means for forming fasteners and means for gripping a suture needle;
• D) means for operatively connecting said fastener storage and deploying mechanism to said operating mechanism including means to rotate said means for holding fasteners with respect to said distal end perpendicular to said longitudinal axis towards said means for forming fasteners;
• and
• E) means on said fastener storage and deployment mechanism for releasably holding an anchor, said anchor being attached to a suture and being released from said fastener storage and deployment mechanism to remain in place adjacent to a patient's tissue when said fastener storage and deployment mechanism is removed from the patient after operating to deploy a fastener.

A method of placing a suture in tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprising:

• A) providing a surgical fastener comprising a one-piece body having a central section, and two prongs extending away from said central section, said central section having a tissue abutting area large enough to anchor said body in place on tissue with said prongs extending through said tissue and at least one length of suture with a needle attached to the fastener with the suture stored for deployment;
• B) releasably mounting said surgical fastener on a distal end of a tool, said tool including a base having a distal end and a proximal end, an operating mechanism on said proximal end and which is located outside of a patient during use, a fastener deployment mechanism on said distal end, an operating element operatively connecting said fastener deployment mechanism to said operating mechanism, a needle grabber element adjacent to said distal end, a second operating element operatively connecting said needle grabber to said operating mechanism, and an anvil located adjacent to said distal end;
• C) placing the operating mechanism adjacent to tissue at a selected location;
• D) operating said operating mechanism to drive the prongs of the fastener and a suture needle through the tissue;
• E) crimping said prong to anchor the fastener to the tissue;
• F) grabbing said suture needle;
• and
• G) pulling said suture needle out of said patient.

A method of placing a suture in tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprising:

• A) providing a surgical fastener comprising a one-piece body having a central section, and two prongs extending away from said central section, said central section having a tissue abutting area large enough to anchor said body in place on tissue with said prongs extending through said tissue;
• B) releasably mounting said surgical fastener on a distal end of a tool, said tool including a base having a distal end and a proximal end, an operating mechanism on said proximal end and which is located outside of a patient during use, a fastener deployment mechanism on said distal end, an operating element operatively connecting said fastener deployment mechanism to said operating mechanism;
• C) placing the operating mechanism adjacent to tissue at a selected location;
• D) operating said operating mechanism to drive the prongs of the fastener through the tissue;
• E) crimping said prong to anchor the fastener to the tissue;
• F) threading a suture through the tissue;
• and
• G) locating one end of the suture outside of the patient.