Patent ID: 10675020

Abstract:
An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a handle and an articulating shaft extending from the handle including proximal and distal shaft sections and an articulating joint interconnecting the proximal and distal shaft sections. The proximal shaft section has a proximal outer tube and a proximal inner member, and the distal shaft section includes a distal outer tube and a distal inner member. An incompressible member interconnects the proximal and distal inner members to form an inner shaft member having a fixed length. Distal movement of the proximal outer tube relative to the proximal inner member articulates the distal shaft section relative to the proximal shaft section via the articulating joint. As the articulating shaft moves between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration the distance between a distal-most end of the distal outer tube and the handle changes while the length of the inner shaft member remains fixed.