Surgical implant and method and instrument for installing the same

Abstract

A surgical implant comprising a receiver member and deployment member for clamping and sealing tissue of variable thickness, a corresponding applicator tool and surgical system for connecting, sealing, fastening and/or attaching tissue to itself, to other tissue and/or to non-tissue structures, and/or sealing the flow of fluid at and/or between structures such as tissue and vessel structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical implant comprising:
 a fastener supporting member having a first surface;   at least one fastener supported by the fastener supporting member;   a receiver member having a second surface facing the first surface of the fastener supporting member; and   a retainer positioned within the receiver member;   wherein the at least one fastener is deployable from the fastener supporting member toward the receiver member to engage the retainer within the receiver member, wherein engagement of the retainer by the at least one fastener couples the fastener supporting member and the receiver member together.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the fastener supporting member exceeds a width of the fastener receiving member, and the at least one fastener includes a plurality of fasteners arranged along a row substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fastener supporting member. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical implant according to  claim 2 , wherein the receiver member includes a plurality of shields arranged along a row substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the receiver member, each of the plurality of shields positioned opposite one of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is deployable through the fastener supporting member. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical implant according to  claim 4 , wherein the retainer is embedded in the receiver member and includes a plurality of strands and a plurality of openings, wherein the at least one fastener includes a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners receivable within one of the openings, and wherein the plurality of openings are at least partially formed by spacing between the plurality of strands. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer restricts movement of the least one fastener in a direction opposite to a direction of deployment of the at least one fastener after the at least one fastener engages the retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastener supporting member includes a retainer embedded therein. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical implant according to  claim 7 , wherein the retainer within the fastener supporting member includes a plurality of openings, wherein the at least one fastener is receivable within one of the openings. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical implant according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of openings are formed by spacing between a plurality of strands. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1 , wherein receiver member is formed of a first material and the retainer is formed of a more rigid material than the first material of the receiver member. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical implant according to  claim 10 , wherein the receiver member is at least partially composed of silicone rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is deployed in a first direction toward the receiver member and is biased in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical implant comprising
 a fastener carrying member supporting a plurality of fasteners having penetrating tips, the fastener carrying member having a first tissue contacting surface; and   a receiver member having a second tissue contacting surface, the first and second tissue contacting surfaces positionable opposite each other so that tissue to receive the plurality of fasteners is positionable between the first and second tissue contacting surfaces;   wherein deployment of the fasteners moves the penetrating tips of the fasteners through the fastener carrying member and through the tissue between the first and second tissue contacting surfaces and into the receiver member to couple the receiver member and fastener carrying member.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical implant according to  claim 13 , further comprising a retainer positioned within the receiver member. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical implant according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer is composed of a material having a rigidity greater than a rigidity of the receiver member. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical implant according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer has a plurality of openings, and the fasteners are deployable so the penetrating tips of the fasteners extend through the openings. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical implant according to  claim 15 , further comprising a retainer positioned in the fastener carrying member, and the penetrating tips of the fasteners extend through the retainer positioned in the fastener carrying member. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical implant according to  claim 13 , wherein the fastener carrying member includes a plurality of compressible members, the compressible members compressed by the fasteners. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical implant comprising a plurality of fasteners arranged along a longitudinally extending row substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the implant, a receiver member, a retainer having openings to retain tips of the plurality of fasteners, the plurality of fasteners engageable with the receiver, the retainer embedded in the receiver member and out of contact with tissue or other surgical structure fastened by the implant. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical implant according to  claim 19 , wherein the retainer is composed of a material having a greater stiffness than the receiver member. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical implant according to  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of compressible members positioned in the body and compressed by the plurality of fasteners.