Patent Application
20150032130
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surgical fasteners, and more particularly, to surgical features including an engagement member and associated methods of applying.
2. Description of Related Art
In hernias, such as direct or indirect inguinal hernias, a part of the intestine protrudes through a defect in the support abdominal wall to form a hernial sac. The defect may be repaired using an open surgery procedure in which a relatively large incision is made and the hernia is closed off outside the abdominal wall by suturing. The mesh is attached with sutures over the opening to provide reinforcement.
In contrast, minimally invasive, e.g., endoscopic or laparoscopic, surgical procedures are currently available to repair a hernia. In laparoscopic procedures, surgery is performed in the abdomen through a small incision while in endoscopic procedures, surgery is performed through narrow endoscopic tubes or cannulas inserted through small incisions in the body.
Currently, minimally invasive surgical techniques for hernia repair utilize surgical fasteners, e.g., surgical tacks, staples, and clips, to secure the mesh to the tissue to provide reinforcement to the repair and structure for encouraging tissue ingrowth. Surgical fasteners may be deployed with a surgical fastener applier through a mesh and into tissue below.
Challenges may be presented in affixing a mesh over a hernial defect with surgical fasteners, e.g., in instances involving irregular or uneven surface geometries, or in situations when internal body structures are subject to movement and shifting. However, it is desirable to minimize the number and size of surgical fasteners deployed through a mesh to minimize trauma to the tissue below. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a surgical fastener that is configured with optimized mesh retention properties, while minimizing the portion or size of the surgical fastener inserted into tissue.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical fastener is disclosed, and includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the engagement member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the head section includes a threaded section. The engagement member may be disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member has an arcuate configuration.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical fastener is disclosed, and includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread is defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The engagement member is configured such that, in a first condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially inward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a first transverse head section diameter is defined, and in a second condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a different, second transverse head section diameter is defined.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the head section includes a threaded section. The engagement member may be disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member has an arcuate configuration. In the first configuration, the arcuate configuration of the engagement member may approximate the curvature of a surface of the head section.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member is configured to pivot between and including 0 degrees and 180 degrees. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the surgical fastener is configured to be disposed within a delivery device, and is configured to be maintained in the first condition by engagement with the delivery device.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of deploying a surgical fastener including a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed thereon and a tissue snaring section extending away from the head section is disclosed. The method includes loading the surgical fastener in a delivery device such that the engagement member of the head section is disposed in a first, radially constrained configuration, and advancing the surgical fastener out of the delivery device such that the engagement member pivots radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section in a second, deployed configuration.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes the step of advancing the surgical fastener includes actuating the delivery device. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes further the step of advancing the surgical fastener through a mesh and into tissue such that, in the deployed configuration, the mesh is compressed against tissue.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be appreciated by reference to the drawings, wherein:
With reference now to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, the presently-disclosed surgical fastener will be described. As used herein, the term “operator” may refer to any user, e.g., a nurse, doctor, or clinician, of the presently-disclosed surgical fastener. Further, the term “distal” refers to that portion of the surgical fastener, or component thereof, further from the operator while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the surgical fastener, or component thereof, closer to the operator.
Referring initially to
Head section 20 has a substantially flat, disc-like profile that has a proximal surface 22a and a distal surface 22b. Head section 20 defines a first transverse axis “B1” and a second transverse axis “B2” that are each orthogonal to the longitudinal axis “A” and to each other. Head section 20 comprises two opposing threaded sections 24a, 24b disposed that protrude radially outwardly from the head section 20. Opposing threaded sections 24a, 24b may have a tapered configuration and include threads 26a, 26b, respectively, that are configured for engagement with portions of a delivery device (e.g., a surgical tacker instrument), as will be described further below. A pair of radial gaps 28a, 28b are defined between the threaded sections 24a, 24b of head section 20, and may be positioned for engagement with other portions of a delivery device, as will be described further below.
A pair of engagement members 30a, 30b are disposed within the respective radial gaps 28a, 28b of the head section 20. Engagement members 30a, 30b are integrally formed with and extend from head section 20 in a cantilevered fashion.
Engagement members 30a, 30b may have an arcuate profile, as shown, and may lie substantially parallel to the proximal surface 22a of the head section 20. Engagement members 30a, 30b may be disposed at a longitudinal position between the proximal surface 22a and the distal surface 22b of the head section 20. Engagement members 30a, 30b are configured for pivotal movement with respect to the head section 20. Engagement members 30a, 30b have a flexible and/or resilient configuration, and accordingly may define a spring constant. Engagement members 30a, 30b are biased toward a radially-outward or cantilevered configuration, as will be described further below. In some embodiments, engagement members 30a, 30b may include friction-enhancing features, e.g., grooves, ridges, or spikes formed thereon. Additionally, engagement members 30a, 30b may be formed of a material sufficient to resist deformation thereof
Engagement members 30a, 30b may be monolithically formed with the outer surface of head section 20. In some embodiments, engagement members 30a, 30b may be separable components that are attached to the remainder of head section 20 via, e.g., brazing or welding, a living hinge, or adhering.
In this manner, engagement members 30a, 30b are configured to pivot and flex or swing radially outwardly with respect to the remainder of head section 20. Turning to
The distal surface of head section 20 is formed onto the proximal end 42 of tissue snaring section 40. Tissue snaring section 40, as shown, may have a substantially conical profile that tapers from its proximal end 42 to a distal tip 44. Tip 44 defines a pointed surface that is configured for penetration of, e.g., a mesh and/or tissue, as will be described further below. Tissue snaring section 40 further includes a thread 46 formed therearound. Tissue snaring section 40 may define a maximum diameter “DS” (
Thread 46 follows a generally helical, distally-downward path along tissue snaring section 40. Thread 46 may have a first terminus at the proximal end 42 of tissue snaring section 40, and may have a second terminus at the distal tip 44 of tissue snaring section 40. In some embodiments, thread 46 may have first and second terminuses disposed between the proximal and distal ends 42, 44 of tissue snaring section 40. Thread 46 may have any desirable configuration suitable for a surgical fastener, e.g., single-thread or double-thread. Thread 46 may be formed onto the tissue snaring section 40 by any suitable manner, e.g., etching or molding such that the thread 46 is monolithically formed with the tissue snaring section 40, or thread 46 may be attached to the tissue snaring section 40 by adhesion, brazing, or welding.
It will be understood that surgical fastener 10 may have any configuration suitable for its intended purpose. An exemplary surgical fastener is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0282401 to Corradi, et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Turning now to
Delivery device 100 may include an outer tube portion 102 and a coil member 104 disposed therein. Coil member 104 is a substantially resilient member that may have a flexibility profile such that the outer tube portion 102 of the delivery device 100 is biased to return to a resting position under a bending load. Coil member 104 is fixedly disposed within the outer tube portion 102 and may be attached to the interior surface of outer tube portion 102 in any suitable manner, e.g., adhesion brazing or welding. Coil member 104 includes a body 105 having a diameter “D” and being disposed in a helically wound configuration that defines pitch “P.”
Surgical fastener 10 may be loaded into delivery device 100 in any suitable manner, e.g., a stack or column. The outer tube portion 102 of delivery device 100 is dimensioned such that the engagement members 30a, 30b are constrained in the first, undeployed condition by the interior surface of the outer tube portion 102. Successive winds of the coil member 104 are disposed such that longitudinal spaces “S” are defined between adjacent winds of the coil member 104. In this manner, the coil member 104 has a configuration such that the opposing threaded portions 24a, 24b of the surgical fastener 10 may be disposed within the spaces “S” between adjacent winds of the body 105 of coil member 104.
Delivery device 100 may also include a pair of radially-opposed tines 106a, 106b that extend longitudinally within the interior of outer tube portion 102 to engage the surgical fastener 10. Specifically, radially-opposed tines 106a, 106b are dimensioned such that the each radially-opposed tine 106a, 106b may be disposed within the respective gaps 28a, 28b defined between the opposing threaded portions 24a, 24b of surgical fastener 10. (
In use, the delivery device 100 is actuated such that the tines 106a, 106b rotate within the outer tube portion 102. As the opposing threaded portions 24a, 24b of the surgical fastener 10 are threadably engaged with the longitudinal spaces “S” defined by the coil member 104, rotation of the tines 106a, 106b urges the opposing threaded portions 24a, 24b to turn within the coil member 104 about the longitudinal axis “A” (
Mesh “M” may be any suitable mesh material configured to cover a desirable portion of tissue, e.g., a hernial defect. Tissue “T” may be any external or internal section of tissue, e.g., an abdominal wall.
Turning now to
Accordingly, as the engagement members 30a, 30b are deployed radially outwardly with respect to the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10, surgical fastener 10 transitions from the first, undeployed condition, in which surgical fastener 10 defines a first engagement area “A1” determined by the maximum outer diameter “DH1”of the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10, and the second, deployed condition, in which surgical fastener 10 defines a second engagement area “A2” determined by the maximum outer diameter “DH2” of the head section 20, measured between the radially outward ends of the engagement members 30a, 30b.
With the engagement members 30a, 30b disposed radially outwardly in the second, deployed configuration, a greater amount of area of the mesh “M” is engaged by the surgical fastener 10 and compressed against tissue “T.” Accordingly, engagement members 30a, 30b facilitate the secure engagement of a mesh “M” against tissue “T,” and provide enhanced mesh retention properties, e.g., for long-term use or to minimize disengagement of the surgical fastener 10 from the mesh “M” due to shifting of the tissue “T” or other external loads applied to the surgical fastener 10, mesh “M,” or tissue “T.” In this manner, the configuration of surgical fastener 10 provides optimal mesh retention properties such that a smaller number of surgical fasteners 10 may be employed as compared to surgical fasteners devoid of engagement members 30a, 30b. Further, by providing the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10 with engagement members 30a, 30b, optimal mesh retention properties are provided without increasing the portion of the tissue snaring section 40 inserted into the tissue “T.”
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended thereto.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/857,709, filed Jul. 24, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61857709 | Jul 2013 | US |
