Surgical tacker with quantity indicator

Abstract

The invention relates to tacking devices for use in minimally invasive surgery that have a quantity indicator on a distal end that can be seen through a scope and that show a number of fasteners remaining in the device. A surgeon can watch the delivery of fasteners while simultaneously seeing f a number of fasteners remaining. This allows a hernia mesh to be properly fixed into place without going astray during the delicate initial placement procedure and also for even spacing of the fasteners on the mesh. The patient's post-operative recovery progresses well, and excessive pain is avoided. Methods of the invention include viewing the surgical site via the scope while also viewing the indicator via the scope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical fastening device, comprising:
 a handle;   a trigger disposed on the handle;   an elongated shaft extending from the handle;   a carrier portion disposed at a distal portion of the shaft;   a plurality of fasteners disposed within the carrier portion; and   an indicator on the distal portion of the shaft that shows a number of the plurality of fasteners that remain within the carrier portion.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein operation of the trigger causes the device to deliver one of the plurality out of the fasteners and to decrement by one the number shown by the indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a linkage between a visible marker disposed on a surface of the shaft and a location of a marker element disposed within the carrier portion. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the linkage comprises a mechanical linkage. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising graduations extending along the distal portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the indicator includes a visible marker configured to correspond to one of the graduations. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the visible marker is offset from the graduations to compensate for parallax that arises when viewing the indicator through an endoscope. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a visible marker configured to assume only certain discrete, pre-determined positions on a surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a marker element disposed within the carrier portion and an electronic display. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic display comprises a light on the distal portion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic display comprises a monitor coupled to an endoscopic camera.