Surgical fastening device with mesh retaining means

Abstract

The invention provides a surgical fastening or suturing device. The device of the invention has a slender shaft and an actuating mechanism configured to eject a surgical fastener from the distal end of the shaft or configured to perform suturing at the distal end of the shaft. The device also has an attachment arrangement for attaching a piece of surgical mesh material onto an external lateral surface of the shaft and around the distal end of the shaft.

1 . A surgical fastening or suturing device, comprising:
 a slender shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an external lateral surface;   an attachment arrangement configured to attach a piece of surgical mesh material onto the external lateral surface of the slender shaft and around the distal end of the slender shaft; and   an actuating mechanism configured to eject a surgical fastener from the distal end of the slender shaft or configured to perform suturing at the distal end of the slender shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a releasing mechanism configured to release the piece of surgical mesh from the external lateral surface of the slender shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 2  wherein the releasing mechanism is configured to release the piece of surgical mesh prior to or during ejecting a fastener or prior to suturing. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 2  wherein the releasing mechanism is configured to release the piece of surgical mesh after ejecting a fastener or after suturing. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 2  wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to activate the releasing mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical fastening device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment arrangement includes one or more hooks on the external lateral surface of the slender shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical fastening device according to  claim 2  wherein the attachment arrangement includes one or more hooks on the external lateral surface of the slender shaft, and the releasing mechanism is configured to retract the hooks into an interior of the slender shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical fastening device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment arrangement includes a clip adapted to clamp onto the slender shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical fastening device according to  claim 2  wherein the attachment arrangement includes a clip adapted to clamp onto the slender shaft and the releasing mechanism includes a handle or cord configured to remove the clip from the slender shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical fastening device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a handle provided with a stopper. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical fastening device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment arrangement includes a sleeve dimensioned to fit onto the slender shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 2  wherein the attachment arrangement includes a sleeve dimensioned to fit onto the slender shaft, and further comprising a detachment mechanism configured to tear the sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 12  wherein the sleeve is provided with perforations to facilitate tearing of the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 12  wherein the detachment mechanism includes a cord extending from the sleeve to the proximal end of the device, the sleeve configured to tear when the cord is pulled. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment arrangement includes knobs extending from the external lateral surface of the slender shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical fastening or suturing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more protrusions extending distally from the distal end of the slender shaft.