Abstract: A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes an elongated shaft, a housing connected with the elongated shaft, a trigger, a gear train, and a firing system disposed in the housing. The trigger is squeezed for commencing a firing cycle. The firing system includes a storage reel, a spool connected to the storage reel, a drive wheel located distal to the storage reel and the spool, a constant torque spring having a proximal end connected to the spool and a distal end connected to the drive wheel, and a flexible member in contact with the drive wheel. The flexible member has a proximal end connected to the storage reel and a length configured to be driven by the drive wheel toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, and a cartridge insertable into the cartridge opening, the cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners pre-loaded into the cartridge. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed within the housing, and an actuator for activating the firing system to commence a firing cycle for removing one of the surgical fasteners from the cartridge and driving the removed surgical fastener from the housing to a distal end of the elongated shaft. In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a cartridge body having an upper end and a lower end insertable into the cartridge opening. The surgical fasteners are arrayed in a stack that extends between the upper and lower ends of the cartridge body.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an elongated conduit extending through the elongated shaft. A firing system is disposed within the housing. The firing system has an insertion tool having a top surface that extends proximal and distal ends thereof and a stripper ramp that projects above the top surface. An actuator activates the firing system to commence a firing cycle. During the firing cycle, the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft. The elongated conduit has a top wall with a top notch formed therein. The stripper ramp slides through the top notch for guiding movement of the insertion tool as the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument having a reconfigurable handle for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a handle coupled with the proximal end of the housing, and a trigger coupled with the handle. The applicator instrument has a firing system including an energy storing assembly that is disposed within the housing, and a gear train disposed within the handle and coupled with the trigger. The trigger is squeezed for commencing a firing cycle and storing energy in the energy storing assembly. The applicator instrument includes a handle reconfiguration actuator having a first position for locking the handle in place relative to the housing and a second position for enabling the handle to rotate relative to the housing between a pistol configuration and an in-line configuration.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section and an articulating distal shaft section extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing, an actuator that is engageable for commencing a firing cycle of the firing system, and an articulation lever provided on the housing for selectively articulating the articulating distal shaft section of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument includes a cam plate disposed within the housing that is linked with the articulating distal shaft section and that coupled with the articulation lever for being rotated by the articulation lever between a first or horizontal position for straightening the articulating distal shaft section and a second or vertical position for articulating the articulating distal shaft section.

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: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having an actuator, a shaft extending from the housing, and an end cap secured to a distal end of the shaft. The end cap has a bottom side, a top side, a lower distal edge adjacent the bottom side, and an end face that slopes upwardly and proximally from the lower distal edge to the top side of the end cap. A surgical fastener delivery window is formed in the sloping distal end face of the cap for dispensing surgical fasteners. The sloping distal end face extends continuously around the outer perimeter of the surgical fastener delivery window. The cap includes a plurality of gripping posts projecting distally from the sloping distal end face of the distal end cap. The posts are inserted into the pores of a surgical mesh for controlling movement of the mesh.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes an elongated shaft, a housing connected with the elongated shaft, a trigger, a gear train, and a firing system disposed in the housing. The trigger is squeezed for commencing a firing cycle. The firing system includes a storage reel, a spool connected to the storage reel, a drive wheel located distal to the storage reel and the spool, a constant torque spring having a proximal end connected to the spool and a distal end connected to the drive wheel, and a flexible member in contact with the drive wheel. The flexible member has a proximal end connected to the storage reel and a length configured to be driven by the drive wheel toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section and an articulating distal shaft section extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing, an actuator that is engageable for commencing a firing cycle of the firing system, and an articulation lever provided on the housing for selectively articulating the articulating distal shaft section of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument includes a cam plate disposed within the housing that is linked with the articulating distal shaft section and that coupled with the articulation lever for being rotated by the articulation lever between a first or horizontal position for straightening the articulating distal shaft section and a second or vertical position for articulating the articulating distal shaft section.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an elongated conduit extending through the elongated shaft. A firing system is disposed within the housing. The firing system has an insertion tool having a top surface that extends proximal and distal ends thereof and a stripper ramp that projects above the top surface. An actuator activates the firing system to commence a firing cycle. During the firing cycle, the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft. The elongated conduit has a top wall with a top notch formed therein. The stripper ramp slides through the top notch for guiding movement of the insertion tool as the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, and a cartridge insertable into the cartridge opening, the cartridge having a plurality of surgical fasteners pre-loaded into the cartridge. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed within the housing, and an actuator for activating the firing system to commence a firing cycle for removing one of the surgical fasteners from the cartridge and driving the removed surgical fastener from the housing to a distal end of the elongated shaft. In one embodiment, the cartridge includes a cartridge body having an upper end and a lower end insertable into the cartridge opening. The surgical fasteners are arrayed in a stack that extends between the upper and lower ends of the cartridge body.

Abstract: An applicator instrument having a reconfigurable handle for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a handle coupled with the proximal end of the housing, and a trigger coupled with the handle. The applicator instrument has a firing system including an energy storing assembly that is disposed within the housing, and a gear train disposed within the handle and coupled with the trigger. The trigger is squeezed for commencing a firing cycle and storing energy in the energy storing assembly. The applicator instrument includes a handle reconfiguration actuator having a first position for locking the handle in place relative to the housing and a second position for enabling the handle to rotate relative to the housing between a pistol configuration and an in-line configuration.

Abstract: A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing having an actuator, a shaft extending from the housing, and an end cap secured to a distal end of the shaft. The end cap has a bottom side, a top side, a lower distal edge adjacent the bottom side, and an end face that slopes upwardly and proximally from the lower distal edge to the top side of the end cap. A surgical fastener delivery window is formed in the sloping distal end face of the cap for dispensing surgical fasteners. The sloping distal end face extends continuously around the outer perimeter of the surgical fastener delivery window. The cap includes a plurality of gripping posts projecting distally from the sloping distal end face of the distal end cap. The posts are inserted into the pores of a surgical mesh for controlling movement of the mesh.

Abstract: A surgical device for inserting an anchor, including a handle having an actuator, an outer barrel shaft extending from the handle to a distal end and having a channel therethrough, and an outer barrel tip the distal end thereof having an elastomeric septum, a drive pin within the channel, and an implantable anchor removably coupled to the drive pin. The outer barrel shaft is coupled to an actuator for movement between a first extended position wherein the outer barrel shaft tip substantially cover the anchor, and a second retracted position where the outer barrel shaft tip do not cover the anchor. When the shaft is in the first position, the elastomeric septum of the outer barrel tip circumferentially surrounds and engages the anchor to thereby stabilize the anchor prior to deployment, and when the shaft is in the second position, the elastomeric septum does not engage the anchor.

Abstract: An applicator system for surgical fasteners includes an insertion tool having a shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and an insertion fork connected to the distal end of the shaft, and at least one cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners used for securing an implant to tissue. The surgical fasteners are removed one at a time from the cartridge by engaging one of the surgical fasteners with the insertion fork and removing the engaged surgical fastener from the cartridge. The insertion fork with the loaded surgical fastener is manually inserted through an implant and into tissue for securing the implant to the tissue.

Abstract: A surgical device for inserting an anchor, including a handle having an actuator, an outer barrel shaft extending from the handle to a distal end and having a channel therethrough, and an outer barrel tip the distal end thereof having an elastomeric septum, a drive pin within the channel, and an implantable anchor removably coupled to the drive pin. The outer barrel shaft is coupled to an actuator for movement between a first extended position wherein the outer barrel shaft tip substantially cover the anchor, and a second retracted position where the outer barrel shaft tip do not cover the anchor. When the shaft is in the first position, the elastomeric septum of the outer barrel tip circumferentially surrounds and engages the anchor to thereby stabilize the anchor prior to deployment, and when the shaft is in the second position, the elastomeric septum does not engage the anchor.