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: Disclosed is an infinitely adjustable depth stop for a laparoscopic instrument having a shaft. The depth stop includes a first component having a first annular space adapted to allow the shaft to be fitted therethrough. The first annular space has a reducible diameter and an interference surface against which the shaft may be fitted. Upon reduction of the reducible diameter, the interference surface frictionally engages the shaft to arrest relative movement of the depth stop along the shaft. The frictional engagement may be along a curve, a spiral curve, or an area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an infinitely adjustable depth stop for a laparascopic instrument having a shaft, the depth stop including a first component having a first annular space adapted to allow the shaft to be fitted therethrough. The first annular space has a reducible diameter and an interference surface against which the shaft may be fitted. Upon reduction of the reducible diameter, the interference surface frictionally engages the shaft to arrest relative movement of the depth stop along the shaft. The frictional engagement may be along a curve, a spiral curve, or an area. Means are also provided to reopen the reducible diameter to release the depth stop.

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: A curved surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes a curved member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a tissue penetrating end at the distal end of the curved member. The curved member has a total curvature of less than 360 degrees between the proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the curved member lies in a first plane, the distal end of the curved member lies in a second plane that is offset from the first plane, and the curved member has an intermediate section that extends between the first and second planes. The curved member includes a compound curve having a proximal section with a first radius of curvature and a distal section with a second radius of curvature that is different than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes first and second legs lying in a first plane, and third and fourth legs lying in a second plane that is orthogonal with the first plane. A bridge interconnects proximal ends of the four legs for forming a closed end of the surgical fastener. Each leg has a proximal end, a distal end, and an insertion tip with a distal point located at the distal end of the leg. Each leg has an insertion tool alignment guide that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the leg and along a longitudinal axis that is aligned with the distal point of the insertion tip.

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: 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: A curved surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes a curved member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a tissue penetrating end at the distal end of the curved member. The curved member has a total curvature of less than 360 degrees between the proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the curved member lies in a first plane, the distal end of the curved member lies in a second plane that is offset from the first plane, and the curved member has an intermediate section that extends between the first and second planes. The curved member includes a compound curve having a proximal section with a first radius of curvature and a distal section with a second radius of curvature that is different than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A curved surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes a curved member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the curved member has a tissue penetrating end including an insertion tip with a distal point. The curved member has a total curvature of less than 360 degrees between the proximal and distal ends of the curved member. The curved member comprises a compound curve. A proximal section of the curved member has a first radius of curvature and a distal section of the curved member has a second radius of curvature that is different than the first radius of curvature.

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: 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: A curved surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes a curved member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the curved member has a tissue penetrating end including an insertion tip with a distal point. The curved member has a total curvature of less than 360 degrees between the proximal and distal ends of the curved member. The curved member comprises a compound curve. A proximal section of the curved member has a first radius of curvature and a distal section of the curved member has a second radius of curvature that is different than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for anchoring medical devices to tissue includes first and second legs lying in a first plane, and third and fourth legs lying in a second plane that is orthogonal with the first plane. A bridge interconnects proximal ends of the four legs for forming a closed end of the surgical fastener. Each leg has a proximal end, a distal end, and an insertion tip with a distal point located at the distal end of the leg. Each leg has an insertion tool alignment guide that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the leg and along a longitudinal axis that is aligned with the distal point of the insertion tip.