Absorbable fastener and applying apparatus

Abstract

A surgical fastener apparatus, for securing a surgical mesh material to body tissue including a pair of anchors each having retaining means formed on an outer surface thereof, and a suture tether interconnecting the pair of anchors to one another. The pair of anchors having a substantially cylindrical body having a conically tapered distal end and a planar proximal end. The retaining means includes a series of semi-circular angled projections having a planar proximal surface and a tapered distal end, wherein a center of each of the angled projections is spaced a distance from a longitudinal central axis of the body portion. The surgical fastener is made from a bioabsorbable material which reabsorbs into said body tissue at an appropriate rate, such as for example, polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A surgical fastener apparatus for securing a surgical mesh material to body tissue, comprising: 
 a pair of substantially cylindrical anchors, wherein each anchor is provided with a conically tapered distal end and a substantially planar proximal end, and wherein each anchor member is further provided with a series of semi-circular angled projections having a proximal surface and a tapered distal end and wherein a center of said series of angled projections is spaced a distance from a longitudinal central axis of said anchors; and    a tether interconnecting said proximal ends of said pair of anchors.    
     
     
         2 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of anchors are made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         3 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 2 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from a material which reabsorbs into said body tissue at an appropriate rate.  
     
     
         4 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 2 , where said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         5 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 1 , where said pair of anchors and said tether are dimensioned to be partially absorbed into said body tissue for at least a period of approximately 2 to 3 weeks immediately after implanting and are fully absorbed into said body tissue at any time thereafter.  
     
     
         6 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of anchors have a length of approximately 3 mm from a distal tip of said tapered distal end to said planar proximal end.  
     
     
         7 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 6 , wherein said pair of anchors have a diameter of approximately 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said tether is made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         9 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 8 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         10 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said tether is nonrigid.  
     
     
         11 . A surgical fastener apparatus, for securing a surgical mesh material to body tissue, comprising: 
 a pair of anchors each having retaining means formed on an outer surface thereof; and    a suture tether interconnecting said pair of anchors to one another.    
     
     
         12 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said pair of anchors include a substantially cylindrical body portion having a conically tapered distal end and a substantially planar proximal end.  
     
     
         13 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said retaining means includes a series of semi-circular angled projections having a substantially planar proximal surface and a tapered distal end, wherein a center of each of said angled projections is spaced a distance from. a longitudinal central axis of said body portion.  
     
     
         14 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said suture tether is operatively coupled to said planar surface of each of said pair of anchors.  
     
     
         15 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said pair of anchors includes a conical body portion having a helical thread extending therearound.  
     
     
         16 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said helical thread commences from a distal tip of each of said anchors and terminates at a proximal end of each of said anchors.  
     
     
         17 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said suture tether is operatively coupled to said proximal end of each of said anchors.  
     
     
         18 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said helical thread increases in a radial direction as said helical thread progresses from said distal end to said proximal end.  
     
     
         19 . The surgical fastener apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said pair of anchors are made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         20 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 19 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from a material which reabsorbs into said body tissue at an appropriate rate.  
     
     
         21 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 19 , where said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         22  The surgical fastener according to  claim 11 , where said pair of anchors and said tether are dimensioned to be partially absorbed into said body tissue for at least a period of approximately 2 to 3 weeks immediately after implanting and are fully absorbed into said body tissue at any time thereafter.  
     
     
         23 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein said pair of anchors have a length of approximately 3 mm from a distal tip of said tapered distal end to said planar proximal end.  
     
     
         24 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 23 , wherein said pair of anchors have a diameter of approximately 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         25 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein said tether is made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         26 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 25 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         27 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 11 , wherein said tether is nonrigid.  
     
     
         28 . A surgical fastener for securing surgical mesh material to body tissue, comprising: 
 a conical body portion having a pointed distal tip and an enlarged proximal head; and    a helical thread extending radially from said conical body portion.    
     
     
         29 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 28 , wherein said helical thread commences at said distal tip and terminates at a distance spaced from said distal tip.  
     
     
         30 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 29 , wherein said helical thread increases in a radial direction as said helical thread progresses from said distal end to said proximal end.  
     
     
         31 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 30 , wherein said fastener is made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         32 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 31 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         33 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 30 , wherein said fastener is dimensioned to be partially absorbed into said body tissue for at least a period of 2 to 3 weeks immediately after implanting and is fully absorbed into said body tissue at any time thereafter.  
     
     
         34 . The surgical fastener according to  claim 33 , wherein said fastener has a length of approximately 3 mm from said distal tip to said head.  
     
     
         35 . A method for applying a surgical mesh material to a hernial repair site during a hernia repair procedure, comprising the steps of: 
 creating an access to the location of said hernial repair site to expose said hernial repair site;    placing a surgical mesh into position over said hernial repair site, wherein said mesh covers said hernial repair site and extends over surrounding body tissue;    providing an absorbable surgical fastener having a pair of anchors with each anchor having retaining means formed on an outer surface thereof, and a suture tether interconnecting said pair of anchors to one another;    fastening said surgical mesh to said hernial repair site by imbedding a plurality of said absorbable surgical fasteners through said surgical mesh and into said surrounding body tissue; and    closing said access to said hernial repair site.    
     
     
         36 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein said absorbable surgical fasteners are oriented such that a first of said pair of anchors is directly imbedded into said surrounding body tissue and a second of said pair of anchors is imbedded into said body tissue through said surgical mesh.  
     
     
         37 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein said absorbable surgical fasteners are oriented such that said pair of anchors are imbedded into said body tissue through said surgical mesh.  
     
     
         38 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein each of said pair of anchors include a substantially cylindrical body portion having a conically tapered distal end and a substantially planar proximal end.  
     
     
         39 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 38 , wherein said retaining means includes a series of semi-circular angled projections having a substantially planar proximal surface and a tapered distal end, wherein a center of each of said angled projections is spaced a distance from a longitudinal central axis of said body portion.  
     
     
         40 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 39 , wherein said suture tether is operatively coupled to said planar surface of each of said pair of anchors.  
     
     
         41 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein each of said pair of anchors includes a conical body portion having a helical thread extending therearound.  
     
     
         42 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 41 , wherein said helical thread commences from a distal tip of each of said anchors and terminates at a proximal end of each of said anchors.  
     
     
         43 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 42 , wherein said suture tether is operatively coupled to said proximal end of each of said anchors.  
     
     
         44 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 41 , wherein said helical thread increases in a radial direction as said helical thread progresses from said distal end to said proximal end.  
     
     
         45 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein said pair of anchors are made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         46 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 45 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from a material which reabsorbs into said body tissue at an appropriate rate.  
     
     
         47 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 45 , where said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         48 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , where said pair of anchors and said tether are dimensioned to be partially absorbed into said body tissue for at least a period of approximately 2 to 3 weeks immediately after implanting and are fully absorbed into said body tissue at any time thereafter.  
     
     
         49 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein said pair of anchors have a length of approximately 3 mm from a distal tip of said tapered distal end to said planar proximal end.  
     
     
         50 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 49 , wherein said pair of anchors have a diameter of approximately 1.5 mm.  
     
     
         51 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 35 , wherein said tether is made from a bioabsorbable material.  
     
     
         52 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 51 , wherein said bioabsorbable material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid.  
     
     
         53 . The method for fastening a surgical mesh according to  claim 52 , wherein said tether is nonrigid.