Tissue fasteners and related insertion devices, mechanisms, and methods

Abstract

A mechanism for deploying a fastener into skin tissue comprises a first foot, a second foot, and an insertion device. The first foot is configured to contact an external surface of the skin tissue on one side of an incision or wound. The second foot is configured to contact the external skin surface on the other side of the incision/wound. The first and second feet are spaced apart by a gap, and each is configured to allow the skin tissue from one side of the incision or wound to be retracted thereover at an acute angle to expose an inner surface of each of the sides of the incision or wound. The insertion device releasably holds the fastener and is movable to deploy the fastener into the exposed inner surfaces from above and generally perpendicular to the external skin surface.

1 . A mechanism for deploying a fastener into skin tissue having an incision or wound, comprising:
 a first foot including a lower surface that is configured to contact an external surface of the skin tissue on one side of the incision or wound;   a second foot including a lower surface that is configured to contact the external surface of the skin tissue on the other side of the incision or wound, the first and second feet being spaced apart by a gap, and each of the first and second feet configured to allow the skin tissue from one side of the incision or wound to be retracted thereover at an acute angle relative to the external surface of the skin tissue to expose an inner surface of each of the sides of the incision or wound in the gap; and   an insertion device that releasably holds the fastener and is adapted to be moved to deploy the fastener into the exposed inner surfaces of the incision or wound from above and generally perpendicular to the external surface of the skin tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the insertion device is operatively coupled with the first and second feet and adapted to be moved between a first position and a second position along a path generally perpendicular to the lower surfaces of first and second feet such that moving from the first position to the second position translates the insertion device through the gap and returning to the first position releases the fastener to leave the fastener embedded in the exposed inner surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         4 . A method of deploying a bioabsorbable fastener into two sides of an incision or wound in skin tissue, comprising:
 everting each of the two sides of the incision or wound to expose an inner surface of each of the sides such that the inner surfaces face in a direction generally perpendicular to an external surface of the skin tissue;   inserting the bioabsorbable fastener into the exposed inner surfaces of the incision or wound from above and generally perpendicular to the external surface of the skin tissue; and   releasing the everted sides of the incision or wound to leave the bioabsorbable fastener below the external surface of the skin tissue.