Patent ID: 6846313

Claim:
A surgical rivet and pin fastener device comprising a rivet formed of bioabsorbable, biocompatible material, having an elongated body extending along a rivet axis with an enlarged head at a proximal end thereof and a plurality of spreadable legs dependent from said head, the legs being arranged generally circumferentially to define a central opening extending distally along the rivet axis, a radially compressible pin formed of said material extending generally proximally of said enlarged head and having radially flexible members extending to a distal end of the pin from a junction at a proximal end thereof, said pin and said legs being sized so that the legs are spread to fix the rivet in position when the pin moves into the central opening, and an integral support interconnecting said rivet and said pin so as to position the pin along the rivet axis and generally outside the rivet forming an elongated one-piece assembly for handling and installation, said support breaking upon application of an axially-directed force to for driving the pin into said central opening and fixing the rivet in position.