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, comprising:
 a pair of substantially cylindrical anchors each defining a longitudinal central axis, wherein each anchor is provided with a tapered distal end and a substantially planar proximal end, and wherein each anchor is further provided with a series of projections defining a common central axis therethrough, wherein the pair of anchors are oriented with respect to one another such that the common central axis of the series of projections are disposed outward of the longitudinal central axes, and wherein an axial force is exerted along the common central axis of each of the series of angled projections; and   a flexible joining member interconnecting said proximal ends of said pair of anchors.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one projection has a semi-circular profile. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of substantially cylindrical anchors is made from a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the application of axial forces along the respective common central axes of each of the pair of substantially cylindrical anchors causes the pair of anchors to enter tissue at a substantially similar orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the series of angled projections are tapered proximally to engage tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the angled projections has a tapered profile. 
     
     
         7 . A surgical fastener, comprising:
 a pair of anchors having a proximal end and a distal end configured to penetrate tissue, each of the pair of anchors including a plurality of surface projections; and   a flexible joining member attached to a portion of each of the pair of anchors;   wherein each of the pair of anchors defines a first axis and each of the plurality of surface projections defines a second axis therethrough, each of the first axes being spaced radially apart from a the respective one of the second axes.   
     
     
         8 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one surface projection has a semi-circular profile. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the pair of anchors is made from a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the application of axial forces along the respective second axes of each of the pair of anchors causes the pair of anchors to enter tissue at a substantially similar orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of surface projections are tapered proximally to engage tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical fastener apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the surface projections has a tapered profile. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical fastener for use in securing a surgical mesh, comprising:
 a pair of anchor members configured to penetrate tissue, each anchor member having a series of angled protrusions extending from an outer surface thereof, each anchor member defining a longitudinal central axis; and   a flexible joining member coupling the pair of anchor members;   wherein each of the series of angled protrusions includes a center coincident with a common central axis, the common central axes being offset radially from the longitudinal central axis.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical fastener of  claim 13 , wherein at least one angled protrusion has a semi-circular profile. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical fastener of  claim 13 , wherein each of the pair of anchor members is made from a bioabsorbable material. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the application of axial forces along the respective common central axes of each of the pair of anchor members causes the pair of anchor members to enter tissue at a substantially similar orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical fastener of  claim 13 , wherein the series of angled protrusions are tapered proximally to engage tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical fastener of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the angled protrusions has a tapered profile.