Extracting device for surgical fasteners

Abstract

Provided is a device for extracting from a body tissue surgical fasteners having a crown, a baseplate and prongs extending from the crown to the baseplate. The device includes a shaft having a lumen with a cross-sectional shape and dimensions to allow the crown to enter the lumen while preventing the baseplate from entering the lumen. Also provided is a method for extracting from a body tissue a fastener having a crown, a baseplate and prongs extending from the crown to the baseplate. According to the method of the invention, the crown of a fastener is introduced into the hollow portion of the device of the invention while preventing the advancement of the baseplate by the distal part of the hollow shaft.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A device for extracting a surgical fastener, the surgical fastener having a crown, a baseplate and prongs extending from the crown, and a filament passing between the crown and the baseplate, the device comprising:
 (a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   (b) a hollow cylindrical element located at the distal end of the shaft and defining a lumen, the cylindrical element having a longitudinal groove on an external surface of the cylindrical element, said hollow cylindrical element having an inner diameter greater than a diameter of the crown and less than a diameter of the base plate to allow the crown to enter the lumen while preventing the baseplate from entering the lumen; and   (c) a ring element incompletely surrounding a circumference of said hollow cylindrical element, the ring element being rotatable about said hollow cylindrical element between a position in which a gap in the ring element is in register with the longitudinal groove of said hollow cylindrical element, and a position in which the gap is not in register with the longitudinal groove.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said hollow cylindrical element is configured for receiving a distal portion of said filament within the lumen of said hollow cylindrical element via said longitudinal groove. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said shaft comprises a handle at said proximal end. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein said device is configured for enabling said handle to be grasped by one hand while the proximal end of the filament is grasped by another hand. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said longitudinal groove is coextensive with the longitudinal length of said hollow cylindrical element. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said device is configured for enabling a proximal portion of said filament, distal of said handle and proximal from said hollow cylindrical element, to be laterally spaced from said shaft during operation of the device for extracting a fixed said surgical fastener. 
     
     
         15 . A method for extracting a deployed surgical fastener from a body tissue, the surgical fastener having a crown, a baseplate and prongs extending from the crown, and a filament passing between the crown and the baseplate, the method comprising:
 (d) providing an extracting device, the extracting device comprising:
 (i) a hollow cylindrical element located at the distal end of the shaft, said hollow cylindrical element having a longitudinal groove on an external surface of said hollow cylindrical element, the hollow cylindrical element having an inner diameter greater than a diameter of the crown and less than a diameter of the base plate; and 
 (ii) a ring element incompletely surrounding a circumference of said hollow cylindrical element, the ring element being rotatable about the cylindrical element between a position in which a gap in the ring element is in register with the longitudinal groove of said hollow cylindrical element, and a position in which the gap is not in register with the longitudinal groove; 
   (e) bringing the ring element to its position in which the gap is in register with the longitudinal groove;   (f) inserting the filament into the longitudinal groove, the filament being immobilized between the crown and the baseplate of the fastener in its deployed configuration;   (g) bringing the ring element to its position in which the gap is not in register with the longitudinal groove; and   (h) pulling on the filament bringing the crown into the interior of said hollow cylindrical element, while preventing the baseplate from entering said interior.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein in step (c), a distal portion of said filament is received within said hollow cylindrical element via said longitudinal groove. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said shaft comprises a handle at said proximal end. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a proximal portion of the filament, distal of said handle and proximal of said cylindrical element, is laterally spaced from said shaft at least in part of step (e). 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said handle is grasped by one hand while the proximal end of the filament is grasped by another hand at least in step (e). 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said longitudinal groove is coextensive with the longitudinal length of said cylindrical element.