Surgical staple

Abstract

In certain exemplary embodiments, a generally U-shaped surgical staple is provided having a base and a pair of legs extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite ends of the base respectively. The legs in use of the staple are bent through approximately 90° relative to the base. To effect a greater compression of the stapled tissue, the legs can include a penetrative portion adjacent the tip and a compressive structure which, due to its increased height relative to that of the penetrative portion, spreads the compressive forces of the staple further along the length of the incision being closed. The compressive portion also provides a depth stop to avoid the tip penetrating too deeply into the tissue in which it is deployed.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for closing an incision, comprising:
 advancing opposed legs of an undeformed surgical staple toward an incision to position a base of the staple extending between the opposed legs across the incision and to cause penetrative tips of the legs to penetrate through tissue on opposed sides of the incision, the opposing legs being bendable within a plane, each of the legs having a leg dimension in a first direction perpendicular to and extending from the plane, at least a portion of the base being in the plane and the base having a base dimension in the first direction, each leg further including a depth stop compressive portion formed thereon to limit a penetration depth of each leg through the tissue, the compressive portion having a compressive dimension in the first direction, the compressive dimension being greater than the leg dimension; and   bending at least a portion of each leg within the plane to deform the surgical staple and penetrate tissue to close the incision.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein bending at least a portion of each leg comprises bending each leg relative to the base about a corresponding bend point such that the compressive portion is formed between the bend point and the penetrative portion of the corresponding leg. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein bending at least a portion of each leg causes the penetrative tips of the opposed legs to advance toward one another along a substantially arcuate path. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein bending at least a portion of each leg causes the penetrative tips of the opposed legs to substantially abut one another. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein bending at least a portion of each leg causes the penetrative tips of the opposed legs to pass one another to close completely. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the penetrative tips substantially abuts at least one of the compression portions when the penetrative tips are closed completely. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the compressive portion of each leg is formed between a proximal portion and the penetrative tip of each leg. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the compressive portion of each leg has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the penetrative tip. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each leg includes a plurality of penetrative tips formed thereon that are connected to one another by the compressive portion. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein each compressive portion is in the form of a bar extending substantially perpendicular to the proximal portion of the leg. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the penetrative tip on one leg is staggered from the penetrative tip of the other leg so that bending at least a portion of each leg causes penetrative tips to pass one another. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the base includes an arc formed therein. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the arc extends substantially transverse to a plane containing a proximal portion of each leg. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the opposed legs of the surgical staple are advanced toward an incision by positioning the arc of the base around a shaft, and advancing the surgical staple along the shaft. 
     
     
         33 . A method for closing an incision, comprising:
 positioning a base of an undeformed surgical staple across an incision formed in tissue;   advancing at least two legs extending from opposed ends of the base toward the tissue to cause a penetrative portion of each leg to extend through the tissue on opposed sides of the incision, the at least two legs being bendable within a plane, each of the legs having a leg dimension in a first direction perpendicular to and extending from the plane, at least a portion of the base being in the plane and having a base dimension in the first direction, the compressive portion having a compressive dimension in the first direction, the compressive dimension being greater than the leg dimension; and   bending at least a portion of each leg within the plane to deform the surgical staple, thereby causing a compressive portion formed on each leg to engage and compress the tissue and limit penetration of the penetrative portion of each leg into the tissue.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein bending at least a portion of each leg causes the penetrative tips of the at least two legs to advance toward one another. 
     
     
         35 . A method for closing an incision, comprising:
 advancing opposed legs of an undeformed surgical staple toward an incision to position a base of the staple extending between the opposed legs across the incision and to cause penetrative tips of the legs to penetrate through tissue on opposed sides of the incision, the opposed legs extending at an angle from each end of the base and terminating at a free end, the base and the legs lying substantially in a common plane, each of the legs having a leg dimension in a first direction perpendicular to and extending from the common plane, the base having a base dimension in the first direction, each leg further including a compressive portion formed thereon that acts as a depth stop to limit a penetration depth of each leg through the tissue, the compressive portion having a compressive dimension in the first direction, the compressive dimension being greater than the leg dimension; and   deforming the surgical staple to move at least a portion of each leg within the common plane by bending each leg relative to the base to penetrate tissue to close the incision.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein bending each leg relative to the base causes the penetrative tips of the opposed legs to advance toward one another along a substantially arcuate path. 
     
     
         37 . A method for closing an incision, comprising:
 advancing opposed legs of an undeformed surgical staple toward an incision to position a base of the staple extending between the opposed legs across the incision and to cause penetrative tips of a penetrative portion of the legs to penetrate through tissue on opposed sides of the incision, the legs lying substantially in a common plane, each of the legs having a leg dimension in a first direction perpendicular to and extending from the common plane, the base having a base dimension in the first direction, each leg further including a compressive portion formed thereon that acts as a depth stop to limit a penetration depth of each leg through the tissue, the compressive portion having a compressive dimension in the first direction, the compressive dimension being greater than the leg dimension; and   deforming the surgical staple to move at least a portion of each leg within the common plane by bending each leg relative to the base, wherein the penetrative portion on one leg is staggered in the first direction from the penetrative portion of the other leg.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein bending each leg causes the penetrative portions of the opposed legs to advance toward one another along a substantially arcuate path. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein bending each leg causes the penetrative tips of the penetrative portions of the opposed legs to pass one another to close completely. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein bending each leg causes at least one of the penetrative tips to substantially abut at least one of the compression portions.