Patent ID: 8663244

Claim:
An applicator for applying a barbed fastener to a body tissue, the applicator comprising: an elongated tubular portion having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a tube interior accessible by proximal and distal tube openings, the tube interior being sized and configured for receiving the barbed fastener; an indexer disposed at least partially inside the tube interior, the indexer having an elongated indexer body member and a fastener engaging portion adapted to engage the barbed fastener and move the barbed fastener from an initial fastener position in the tube interior to a firing position as the indexer moves from a first longitudinal position to a second, more distal longitudinal position; a driver disposed at least partially inside the tube interior, the driver having a driver engaging portion at its distal end, the driver engaging portion being adapted to engage the barbed fastener in the firing position and selectively apply an ejection force to the barbed fastener, thereby ejecting the barbed fastener from the tube interior through the distal opening; and a driver actuator assembly adjacent the driver at its proximal end, the driver actuator assembly being adapted for selectively imparting an impulse force to the driver, wherein the driver is configured for transmitting the impulse force to the barbed fastener and the ejection force is the impulse force transmitted to the barbed fastener by the driver, wherein the barbed fastener comprises a head portion having a fastener passage formed therethrough and wherein the elongated indexer body member is configured for slidable disposition through the fastener passage.