Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners including a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft, and a trigger coupled with the housing for activating the firing system. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft and an energy storing element disposed in the housing for building up energy for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners, a firing rod disposed within the elongated shaft and movable within a first plane, and an advancer disposed within the elongated shaft and moveable within a second plane. An actuator is coupled with the advancer for moving the advancer back and forth between retracted and extended positions. A staging assembly at the distal end of the elongated shaft aligns a leading surgical fastener with the first plane. The staging assembly includes a biasing device that is configured to be deflected away from the first plane by the advancer when the advancer is in the extended position and the staging assembly is configured to spring back into alignment with the first plane when the advancer returns back to the retracted position.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having an actuator and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The applicator instrument includes a top stamping disposed within the elongated shaft, and a bottom stamping disposed within the elongated shaft that opposes the top stamping. The applicator instrument has a firing system for dispensing at least one surgical fastener from the distal end of the elongated shaft. An end cap is assembled with the distal ends of the top stamping, the bottom stamping, and the elongated shaft for stabilizing the distal end of the applicator instrument. The end cap has a distal end face with castling for engaging an opposing surface such as surgical mesh overlying tissue. The castling prevents the distal end of the applicator instrument from sliding or moving relative to the opposing surface.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners including a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft, and a trigger coupled with the housing for activating the firing system. The firing system includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft and an energy storing element disposed in the housing for building up energy for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system disposed in the housing, an actuator coupled with the housing for activating the firing system, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, one or more surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, and a distal end cap secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The distal end cap has a surgical fastener dispensing window for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing system includes a firing rod that extends through the elongated shaft for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing rod has a proximal section that moves along the first axis of the elongated shaft and a distal section that moves along a second axis that defines an angle with the first axis.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes a first leg having a proximal end, a distal end, a first rib projecting from an outer wall of the first leg and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the first leg, and a first insertion tip at the distal end of the first leg. The surgical fastener includes a second leg having a proximal end, a distal end, a second rib projecting from an outer wall of the second leg and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the second leg, and a second insertion tip at the distal end of the second leg. A bridge connects the proximal ends of the first and second legs for forming a closed end of the surgical fastener. The first and second legs are curved between the bridge and the first and second insertion tips at the distal ends of the respective first and second legs, and the first and second ribs have curves that mirror the curvature of the respective first and second legs.

Abstract: A surgical fastener includes a first leg having a distal end, a proximal end, and a first insertion tip at the distal end of the first leg, the first insertion tip having a first distal piercing point, and a second leg having a distal end, a proximal end, and a second insertion tip at the distal end of the second leg, the second insertion tip having a second distal piercing point. A bridge connects the first and second legs. The first and second distal piercing points are located outside the respective first and second legs. The first and second legs extend along respective longitudinal axes, and the first and second insertion tips are asymmetrical and skewed outwardly relative to said respective longitudinal axes of the first and second legs.

Abstract: Novel stay suture devices and stay suture combinations with meshes are disclosed. The stay suture devices have a clip and a suture. The clip has leg members that are mounted to a hernia mesh implant such that the leg members are locked in a closed configuration. Also disclosed are novel methods of mounting stay sutures to a surgical mesh implant and repairing a body wall defect such as a hernia defect.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system disposed in the housing, an actuator coupled with the housing for activating the firing system, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, one or more surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, and a distal end cap secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The distal end cap has a surgical fastener dispensing window for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing system includes a firing rod that extends through the elongated shaft for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing rod has a proximal section that moves along the first axis of the elongated shaft and a distal section that moves along a second axis that defines an angle with the first axis.

Abstract: Novel tissue wound closure devices and applicator instruments are disclosed. The tissue wound closure devices have a filament or strap and a capture device that locks the filament or strap in place after application to approximate a wound in tissue. The applicator instruments have a curved insertion needle.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having an actuator and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The applicator instrument includes a top stamping disposed within the elongated shaft, and a bottom stamping disposed within the elongated shaft that opposes the top stamping. The applicator instrument has a firing system for dispensing at least one surgical fastener from the distal end of the elongated shaft. An end cap is assembled with the distal ends of the top stamping, the bottom stamping, and the elongated shaft for stabilizing the distal end of the applicator instrument. The end cap has a distal end face with castling for engaging an opposing surface such as surgical mesh overlying tissue. The castling prevents the distal end of the applicator instrument from sliding or moving relative to the opposing surface.

Abstract: Novel tissue wound closure devices and applicator instruments are disclosed. The tissue wound closure devices have a filament or strap and a capture device that locks the filament or strap in place after application to approximate a wound in tissue. The applicator instruments have a curved insertion needle.

Abstract: A method of securing a prosthetic device to tissue includes providing an applicator instrument including a housing, a shaft, surgical fasteners, a firing rod for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the shaft, a trigger, and an energy storing element. The method includes positioning a prosthetic device over tissue, juxtaposing a distal end of the shaft with the prosthetic device, and compressing the trigger for piloting the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a first rate of speed. The method includes preventing the firing rod from moving distally while building up energy in the energy storing element, and further compressing the trigger for releasing the firing rod for distal movement and transferring the built up energy for moving the firing rod toward the distal end of the elongated shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed.

Abstract: Novel stay suture devices and stay suture combinations with meshes are disclosed. The stay suture devices have a clip and a suture. The clip has leg members that are mounted to a hernia mesh implant such that the leg members are locked in a closed configuration. Also disclosed are novel methods of mounting stay sutures to a surgical mesh implant and repairing a body wall defect such as a hernia defect.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for securing a prosthetic device to tissue includes a first leg having a proximal end, a distal end, a first insertion tip at the distal end, and a first articulating joint that separates said first leg into a proximal segment and a distal segment that is deflectable relative to the proximal segment, and a second leg including a proximal end, a distal end, a second insertion tip at the distal end, and a second articulating joint that separates said second leg into a proximal segment and a distal segment that is deflectable relative to the proximal segment. A bridge connects the proximal ends of the first and second legs for forming a closed end of the surgical fastener. After implantation in tissue, the insertion tips are deflectable away from vessels and nerves to minimize injury to the vessels and nerves, and to minimize patient discomfort and pain.