Patent ID: 7682372
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A wound closure system comprising: a sequential tissue forceps comprising a first arm, a second arm and a central arm, both the first arm and second arm having a tip end and an opposite end and the central arm having a tip portion and an opposite end, the tip portion defining dual tips separated by an interface width, the central arm operably positioned between the first arm and the second arm and operably joined to the first arm and the second arm proximate the opposite ends of the first arm, the second arm and the central arm with a first spring constant being defined relative between the first arm and the central arm and a second spring constant being defined relative between the second arm and the central arm, the second spring constant being greater than the first spring constant such that a manual force applied to squeeze the first arm and the second arm together initially causes approximation of the tip end of the first arm and one of the dual tips of the central arm to grasp a first side of a tissue wound therebetween and subsequently causes approximation of the tip end of the second arm and the other of the dual tips of the central arm to grasp a second side of the tissue wound therebetween residing substantially in the same plane; and a surgical fastening instrument comprising an insertion head and at least one tissue fastener wherein the insertion head interfaces with a mating interface defined between the dual tips of the central arm of the sequential tissue forceps such that the first and second sides of tissue are presented for deployment of the at least one tissue fastener into the first and second sides of tissue by the surgical fastening instrument.