Patent ID: 7942301

Claim:
A stapling system for closing a vascular puncture comprising: a tissue staple having proximal and distal ends with a crown at the proximal end and a plurality of prongs extending distally from the crown, the staple having a central axis and the prongs being disposed about the central axis, wherein each prong includes a tab extending towards the central axis; a mandrel adapted to slidably receive the staple along an outer surface of the mandrel, the mandrel including, a proximal groove corresponding to each prong, the proximal groove adapted to receive the tab of the corresponding prong, a ramp disposed within each proximal groove, a distal groove disposed distal of the ramp, wherein the distal groove is adapted to receive the tabs of the prongs, and a distal anvil disposed distally of the distal groove, wherein the distal groove and the distal anvil form an abrupt angle; and a pusher adapted to slidably receive the mandrel within a lumen of the pusher, wherein the pusher is disposed proximally of the staple and a distal end of the pusher is abuts the crown of the staple.