Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hand-held surgical device, operable by a single user, for deploying fasteners to close a wound or incision in tissue. The device includes tissue pinching and folding members operably controlled by the user during actuation of a trigger of the device, which can temporarily secure and expose inner surfaces of two edges of an incision or wound, where one of a plurality of fasteners can be inserted upon further actuation of the trigger, without crushing or causing undue trauma to the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, an actuator, and a plurality of fasteners. The apparatus is for closing two sides of an incision or cut in skin tissue. The actuator moves into and out of the housing. The plurality of the fasteners are within the housing, and the apparatus is operable to deliver one fastener at a time into each of the two sides of the incision or cut.

Abstract: Methods for deploying a fastener to close an incision or wound involve exposing the inner surface of each opposing side of the incision and inserting down into the exposed inner surfaces from above the fastener.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering bioabsorbable fasteners comprises a housing and an actuator movable by a user to deliver one fastener at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering bioabsorbable fasteners of the type having two cannulated legs to secure the two sides of an incision in tissue comprises a housing containing a magazine with one or more fasteners positioned on a reciprocally movable fastener support. Needle guide tubes and the legs of the front-most fastener are in slidable contact with at least one alignment surface configured to axially align them. An actuator is operated by a user to move two needles within the needle guide tubes to insert each needle into a cannulated leg. A timing lever acts on the fastener support in concert with the actuator movement to remove support of the front-most fastener after the needles are inserted. The needle guide tubes transfer force to the fastener, to push it out of the magazine and along a path through the center of a bifurcated foot, to insert it into the tissue.

Abstract: A tissue fastener includes a bridge section and two cannulated leg sections. The tissue fastener is a single piece of material, and the material can be a bioabsorbable material. Each of the two leg sections can include at least one barb for resisting dislodgement from tissue after the fastener is inserted into tissue. The bridge can be flexible, and the leg sections can receive needles to allow insertion of the fastener into tissue from above a surface of the tissue. Various insertion devices and mechanisms are possible to deploy the fastener into a wound in a patient's skin from above the surface of and generally perpendicular to the skin.

Abstract: A mechanism for deploying a fastener into skin tissue comprises a first foot, a second foot, and an insertion device. The first foot is configured to contact an external surface of the skin tissue on one side of an incision or wound. The second foot is configured to contact the external skin surface on the other side of the incision/wound. The first and second feet are spaced apart by a gap, and each is configured to allow the skin tissue from one side of the incision or wound to be retracted thereover at an acute angle to expose an inner surface of each of the sides of the incision or wound. The insertion device releasably holds the fastener and is movable to deploy the fastener into the exposed inner surfaces from above and generally perpendicular to the external skin surface.

Abstract: A tissue fastener includes a bridge section and two cannulated leg sections. The tissue fastener is a single piece of material, and the material can be a bioabsorbable material. Each of the two leg sections can include at least one barb for resisting dislodgement from tissue after the fastener is inserted into tissue. The bridge can be flexible, and the leg sections can receive needles to allow insertion of the fastener into tissue from above a surface of the tissue. Various insertion devices and mechanisms are possible to deploy the fastener into a wound in a patient's skin from above the surface of and generally perpendicular to the skin.