Patent ID: 7771429
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical tool for inserting fasteners during a surgical procedure, the tool comprising: a cartridge including a plurality of chambers each sized to hold at least one of the fasteners; a receiving element positioned axially below the cartridge, the receiving element including a first end and a second end, the first end including a contact surface aligned with the chambers and positioned to contact the fasteners and prevent the fasteners from exiting the chambers, the receiving element further including a chute that includes an opening at the contact surface and extends to the second end; an engagement member positioned axially below the cartridge and being movable axially within an interior of the receiving element; a shaft that extends through the cartridge, the engagement member, and the receiving element; the shaft being axially movable relative to the cartridge to move the engagement member into contact with the cartridge to rotate the cartridge to individually index the chambers into alignment with the opening of the chute thereby causing the fastener held in the aligned chamber to be released from the aligned chamber and moved along the chute.