Dynamic bioabsorbable fastener for use in wound closure

Abstract

A fastener for insertion into pierced openings of a tissue wound has a body formed of a generally bioabsorbable polymer defining an initial capture area. The body includes a pair of arms, each with an inwardly projecting cleat operably joined at an elbow portion defining an internal elbow angle. The arms are operably joined to a backspan at a shoulder portion defining an internal shoulder angle. A durable tissue retention zone is defined between the cleat and the arm. The elbow portion and the internal elbow angle define an insertion width greater than a width of the pierced openings resulting in the pierced openings stretching over the cleat and being elastically retained within the durable tissue retention zone. The fastener captures wound tissue in the initial capture area and then dynamically reforms in response to lateral stresses without a fracture failure of the fastener until a minimum degradation period.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A bioabsorbable fastener, comprising:
 a fastener body having a pre-deployment orientation, the fastener body includes a backspan having a first arm and a second arm attached to as to define first and second shoulder portions respectively, the first arm and second arm each having an internally projecting cleat so as to define first and second elbow portions respectively, the first arm and the second arm extending generally transversely from the backspan when in the pre-deployment orientation, and wherein the fastener body has a post-deployment orientation in which the fastener body remains intact, wherein the first arm and the second arm are spread apart in the post-deployment orientation so as to define first and second shoulder angles at the first and second shoulder portions that exceed 90° and wherein a first and second elbow angles defined at the first and second elbow portions are less than 90° in the post-deployment orientation so as to continue retaining captured tissue in the post-deployment orientation.   
     
     
         10 . A bioabsorbable fastener, comprising:
 a fastener body having a pre-deployment orientation, the fastener body includes a backspan having a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm extending generally transversely from the backspan when in the pre-deployment orientation, and wherein the fastener body had has post-deployment orientation in which the fastener body remains intact, wherien the first arm and the second arm are spread apart so as to define first and second shoulder angles between the first arm and second arm relative to the backpan that exceed 90°.   
     
     
         11 . A method for retaining wound closure with a bioabsorbable fastener, the method comprising:
 placing a fastener having a first disposition across a wound such that a first fastener arm is inserted into a first tissue surface and a second fastener arm is inserted into a second tissue surface such that a fastener backspan resides across the wound and the first tissue surface and second tissue surface are approximated, the first disposition having the first fastener arm and the second fastener arm arranged generally transversely to a backspan axis defined by the backspan;   maintaining approximation of the first tissue surface and the second tissue surface as the fastener transitions to an open disposition at a time subsequent to initial placement of the fastener across the wound in response to lateral forces applied by the first tissue surface and the second tissue surface, the open disposition having the first fastener arm and the second fastener arm arranged generally parallel to the backspan axis.