US5089009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inwardly biased skin fastener
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1989-06-27
•
Granted: 1992-02-18
•
Expires: 2009-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A surgical skin fastener with inwardly biased prongs. The fastener comprises a backspan, horizontal arms, and at least two prongs, each prong having at least one inwardly pointing barb. The prongs are resiliently biased inward for holding adjacent edges of body tissue in close contact.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/064; A61B17/10; A61B2017/00004; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A surgical fastener for joining body tissue, said surgical fastener comprising: a) a backspan comprising a bridge member, said backspan additionally having at least two arms extending substantially horizontally from said backspan in substantially parallel orientation to each other; and b) at least two prongs depending from the backspan, said prongs being in oblique orientation to each other in which the distal ends of said prongs are inclined towards each other, said prongs being movable in response to pressure to a substantially parallel orientation to each other, and being resiliently returnable to said oblique orientation when said pressure is removed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A surgical fastener for joining body tissue, said surgical fastener comprising: a) a backspan comprising a bridge member, said backspan additionally having at least two arms extending substantially horizontally from said backspan in substantially parallel orientation to each other; and b) at least two prongs depending from the backspan, said prongs being in oblique orientation to each other in which the distal ends of said prongs are inclined towards each other, said prongs being movable in response to pressure to a substantially parallel orientation to each other, and being resiliently returnable to said oblique orientation when said pressure is removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein the bridge member is an inverted U-shaped structure, and said arms are inclined with respect to said backspan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein said arms are inclined from about 5° to about 25° from the horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
In combination with a surgical apparatus for implanting a surgical fastener into body tissue, said surgical apparatus comprising a chamber for holding at least one surgical fastener, means for storing and releasing power, and trigger means, a surgical fastener comprising: a) a backspan comprising a bridge member and at least two arms extending substantially horizontally from said backspan in substantially parallel orientation to each other; and b) at last two prongs depending from said backspan, said prongs being in oblique orientation to each other in which the distal ends of said prongs are inclined towards each other, said prongs being movable in response to pressure to a substantially parallel orientation to each other, and being resiliently returnable to said oblique orientation when said pressure is removed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
In combination with a surgical apparatus for implanting a surgical fastener into body tissue, said surgical apparatus comprising a chamber for holding at least one surgical fastener, means for storing and releasing power, and trigger means, a surgical fastener comprising: a) a backspan comprising a bridge member and at least two arms extending substantially horizontally from said backspan in substantially parallel orientation to each other; and b) at last two prongs depending from said backspan, said prongs being in oblique orientation to each other in which the distal ends of said prongs are inclined towards each other, said prongs being movable in response to pressure to a substantially parallel orientation to each other, and being resiliently returnable to said oblique orientation when said pressure is removed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the surgical fastener is constructed from bioabsorbable material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein the bioabsorbable material is a copolymer of glycolide and lactide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 4 additionally comprising at least one substantially triangular shaped barb on each prong, said prongs being located on the interior side of their respective prongs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said barbs are substantially flat, and in coplanar alignment with respect to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the bridge member is an inverted U-shaped structure, and said arms members are inclined with respect to said backspan.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said arms are inclined from about 5° to about 25° from the horizontal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the bridge member comprises a central bend defining two anticlinal portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein the anticlinal portions define an angle of less than 180°.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the surgical fastener is constructed from a resilient material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the surgical fastener is integrally constructed from a polymeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the surgical apparatus further comprises camming means for moving the prongs of said surgical fastener from the oblique orientation to the parallel orientation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein said camming means comprises at least one camming surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of joining body tissue comprising: a) providing a surgical fastener having (i) a backspan comprising a bridge member; and (ii) at least two prongs depending from said backspan, said prongs being in oblique orientation to each other with the distal ends of said prongs inclined towards each other, said prongs being movable in response to pressure to a substantially parallel orientation to each other for insertion into body tissue, and being resiliently returnable to said oblique orientation when said pressure is removed; b) applying pressure to move said prongs into substantially parallel orientation; c) inserting said prongs into body tissue; and d) releasing said pressure so that said prongs are resiliently biased toward said oblique orientation to hold the body tissue together.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of joining body tissue comprising: a) providing a surgical fastener having (i) a backspan comprising a bridge member; and (ii) at least two prongs depending from said backspan, said prongs being in oblique orientation to each other with the distal ends of said prongs inclined towards each other, said prongs being movable in response to pressure to a substantially parallel orientation to each other for insertion into body tissue, and being resiliently returnable to said oblique orientation when said pressure is removed; b) applying pressure to move said prongs into substantially parallel orientation; c) inserting said prongs into body tissue; and d) releasing said pressure so that said prongs are resiliently biased toward said oblique orientation to hold the body tissue together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3273562A
Cited
US3209754A
Cited
US3601302A
Cited
US3643851A
Cited
US3757629A
Cited
US4217902A
Cited
US4275813A
Cited
US4402445A
Cited
US4523591A
Cited
US4506670A
Cited
US4534352A
Cited
US4667674A
Cited
US4583670A
Cited
US4618086A
Cited
US4635637A
Cited
US4741336A
Cited
USD286441S
Cited
US4610250A
Cited
USD286442S
Cited
US4841960A
Cited
US4887601A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-08-19 | 1996-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-17 | 1999-08-19 | 2000-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-17 | 2003-08-19 | 2004-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |