Patent ID: 8474679

Claim:
An instrument for applying a surgical fastener, comprising: an inner tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a delivery system contained within said inner tubular shaft for advancing at least one surgical fastener out of said distal end; the at least one surgical fastener loaded onto a needle that is contained within the distal end of the inner tubular shaft; wherein said inner tubular shaft includes a sidewall with at least one wall structure modification that is operatively associated with said delivery system, wherein said at least one wall structure modification includes a cut-out that is formed completely through said sidewall; an actuator operatively associated with said delivery system; and an outer tubular shaft mounted about, and reinforcing, said inner tubular shaft along said at least one wall structure modification, and wherein said inner tubular shaft and said outer tubular shaft are fixedly positioned relative to each other along said at least one wall structure modification.