Patent ID: 6837893
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for inserting a surgical fastener through a plurality of portions of material, said apparatus comprising: a surgical fastener having first and second ends and made from a material which enables said fastener to be transformed from a first stressed elongate shape to a second unstressed shape upon release of said fastener from a stressed condition, the first stressed elongate shape of said fastener enabling the first end to be extended through a plurality of layers of material, and with the second shape of the fastener being in the form of a spring with a plurality of coils around a spring axis, with the coils being spring biased towards each other along the spring axis with sufficient axial force to enable the coils on opposite sides of the layers of material to clamp the layers of material together along the spring axis; a single needle having first and second ends, penetration means adjacent the first end of said single needle, said penetration means being configured to pierce through the plurality of layers of material, and insertion means adjacent to the first end of said single needle, said insertion means being configured to place said surgical fastener through the plurality of layers of material pierced by said penetration means; wherein said insertion means comprises a magazine comprising a plurality of chambers, with each chamber adapted to hold a fastener therein, and means for moving the magazine so as to sequentially align one of said chambers with said needle.