Meniscal fastener applying device

A fastener applying device, comprising:

• a handle mechanism;
• an elongated body portion extending from the handle mechanism having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a series of fasteners supported within the elongated body portion in tip-to-tail fashion, each fastener having a pair of legs joined by a flexible connecting member;
• a firing bar operatively connected to the handle mechanism and being movable to engage a distal-most fastener of the series of fasteners and eject the distal-most fastener from the distal end of the elongated body portion;
• at least one barb extending distally from the distal end of the elongated body portion;
• and
• the elongated body portion including a support casing having a cylindrical proximal cross-section tapering to a distal cross-section having planar top and bottom surfaces.

An anvilless fastener applying device, comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• an elongated body portion extending from the handle assembly, the elongated body portion having a distal face positioned to engage body tissue;
• a series of fasteners supported in tip-to-tail fashion along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion each fastener having a pair of legs connected by a flexible connecting member;
• a firing bar operatively connected to the handle assembly and being movable to engage a distal-most fastener of the series of fasteners and eject the distal-most fastener from the distal end of the elongated body portion adjacent the distal face;
• and
• wherein the distal face of the elongated body portion positioned to engage tissue is tapered.

A fastener applying device, comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• an elongated body portion extending from the handle assembly;
• a series of fasteners supported in tip-to-tail fashion along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion, each fastener including a first and a second anchor member interconnected by a flexible member;
• a firing bar operatively connected to the handle assembly and being movable to engage the first and second anchor members of a distal-most fastener of the series of fasteners and eject the distal-most fastener from the elongated body portion;
• and
• at least one barb fixedly positioned on a distal end of the elongated body portion and extending distally therefrom.

A method for repairing meniscal tears in a human joint comprising:

• providing a fastener applying device having a handle mechanism, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle mechanism and including a tapered distal face, a series of fasteners supported within the body portion, and at least one barb fixedly positioned on the distal end of the elongated body portion and extending distally therefrom;
• inserting the elongated body portion into a human joint adjacent to a tear in meniscal tissue;
• positioning the device relative to side walls of the tear using the at least one barb and positioning the tapered distal face against the meniscus tissue;
• and
• actuating the fastener applying device to eject a fastener from the elongated body portion into the tissue adjacent the tear.

A method for repairing meniscal tears in a human joint comprising:

• providing an anvilless fastener applying device having a handle mechanism, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle mechanism, a series of fasteners supported within the body portion in tip-to-tail fashion, each fastener having a pair of legs joined by a flexible connecting member, at least one barb extending from the distal end of the elongated body portion, fastener locator indicia on the distal end of the elongated body portion identifying the point of ejection of the fasteners from the device, and a firing bar operatively connected to the handle mechanism to eject a distal-most fastener of the series of fasteners upon actuation of the handle mechanism;
• inserting the elongated body portion into a human joint adjacent to tissue requiring repair;
• positioning the device relative to the tissue within the joint to a desired position using the at least one barb and the fastener locator indicia;
• and
• actuating the handle mechanism to eject a fastener from the elongated body portion into the tissue.

An anvilless fastener applying device, comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly;
• a series of fasteners supported in tip-to-tail fashion along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion, each fastener having a first and a second anchor member connected together by a suture member;
• and
• a firing bar operatively connected to the handle assembly and being movable to engage a distalmost fastener of the series of fasteners and eject the distalmost fastener from the distal end of the elongated body portion to simultaneously advance the first and second anchor.