Patent ID: 8920439
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising: a housing; a curved shaft extending from said housing, said curved shaft having a proximal end adjacent said housing and a distal end spaced from said housing; a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed within said curved shaft for being dispensed one at a time from said distal end of said curved shaft; an advancer disposed inside said curved shaft and being moveable between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft, wherein said advancer is adapted to shift said surgical fasteners one position closer to said distal end of said curved shaft each time said advancer moves distally; a firing element disposed inside said curved shaft and overlying said advancer, said firing element being movable between said proximal and distal ends of said curved shaft for dispensing said surgical fasteners from said distal end of said curved shaft; a staging assembly located adjacent said distal end of said curved shaft and being adapted to receive a leading one of said surgical fasteners from said advancer as said advancer moves distally and to shift said leading surgical fastener into substantial alignment with said firing element when said advancer moves proximally; and a firing system for dispensing said leading surgical fastener from the distal end of said curved shaft, said firing system including an energy storing element coupled with said firing element, said firing system having a firing cycle with a first stage for advancing said firing element toward the distal end of said curved shaft at a first rate of speed and a second stage for advancing said firing element toward the distal end of said curved shaft at a second rate of speed that is greater than the first rate of speed, wherein said firing cycle includes an energy storing stage that occurs between the first stage and the second stage during which said firing element is held stationary so that said firing element cannot move toward the distal end of said curved shaft while energy is built up in said energy storing element.