Method and apparatus for applying a fastener to tissue with a pair of hollow needles

Claim 1

An instrument for applying a fastener (50) to close a wound or incision in mammalian tissue by holding together portions (52, 54) of said tissue defining the wound or incision so as to facilitate healing of the wound or incision, said fastener (50) being of the type comprising a fastening member (60) and a receiver (62), said fastening member (60) having a pair of legs (66) joined by a link (68), said receiver (62) being adapted to receive portions of said fastening member legs (66) so that said fastener (50) can remain in said tissue portions (52, 54) with a portion of said link (68) lying substantially along one (54) of said tissue portions (52, 54) on one side of the wound or incision and with a portion of each of said legs (66) being received in said receiver (62) on the other side of said wound or incision secured adjacent another of said tissue portions (52, 54), said instrument (100) comprising: a pair of spaced-apart, straight, needles (102) oriented in a common plane, each needle (102) having a distal end (108) adapted for piercing said tissue portions (52, 54), each needle (102) being hollow and having a passage (110) extending along its length from a fastener receiving opening (112) to a discharge opening (109) at said distal end (108), and each said needle (102) defining a slot (114) extending along its length in communication with said passage (110) and facing the slot (114) of the other needle (102); an anvil (130) adapted to be positioned on said other side of said wound or incision; means for effecting relative movement between said anvil (130) and said needles (102) to insert said needles (102) through said tissue portions (52, 54) for locating said receiving openings (112) on said one side of said wound or incision and for locating said discharge opening (109) on said other side of said wound or incision; and drive means (120) for engaging said fastening member (60) and urging said fastening member (60) along said needles (102) to locate a portion of said link (68) on said one side of said wound or incision adjacent said one tissue portion (54) and to locate and secure a portion of each said leg (66) on said other side of said wound or incision adjacent said other tissue portion, wherein the anvil (130) is adapted to support said receiver (62) against said other tissue portion (52).