Surgical fastener

Claim 2

An improved surgical fastener comprising: a resilient filament that is relatively flexible along its length, and at least one elongated head that is relatively inflexible along its length; said at least one elongated head being attached to said filament so that said filament normally is substantially perpendicular to said at least one elongated head; characterized in that at least one end of said elongated head is sharply pointed; whereby when said at least one elongated head is driven lengthwise into tissue with said filament bent relative to said elongated head so as to extend substantially parallel to the driving axis, the resiliency of said filament will (a) cause said elongated head to tend to turn to restore the original perpendicular position of said filament relative to said at least one elongated head and (b) cause said at least one sharply pointed end of said at least one elongated head to embed itself further into said tissue, thereby securely anchoring said fastener in said tissue so that it may not be easily withdrawn by pulling on said filament.

Claim 3

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein at least one end of said at least one elongated head is bevelled to form a sharp point.

Claim 4

A surgical fastener according to claim 2 wherein said sharp point is eccentric of the longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.

Claim 5

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein both ends of said at least one elongated head are sharply pointed.

Claim 6

A surgical fastener according to claim 4 wherein both ends of said at least one elongated head are bevelled to form sharp points.

Claim 7

A surgical fastener according to claim 5 wherein both of said sharp points are eccentric of the longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.

Claim 8

A surgical fastener according to claim 6 wherein said sharp points are disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.

Claim 9

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 having at least three of said elongated heads connected by portions of said filament.

Claim 10

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said fastener is made of a synthetic polymerized resin.

Claim 11

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said fastener is made of a material that is absorbable by living human or animal tissue.

Claim 12

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said fastener is made of a material that is not absorbable by living human or animal tissue.

Claim 13

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said filament has an outer diameter of about 0.015 inches, said at least one elongated head has an outer diameter of about 0.030 inches, and said at least one elongated head has a length of about 0.18 inches.

Claim 14

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said fastener is formed out of a polylactide copolymer or a glycolide copolymer or a nylon, or a polyethylene or a carbonate polymer or a polyether ester copolymer.

Claim 15

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said at least one elongated head is pointed eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of said at least one head.

Claim 16

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 wherein said filament has at least one rib thereon to engage a washer.

Claim 17

A surgical fastener according to claim 15 wherein said at least one rib is conically shaped.

Claim 18

A surgical fastener according to claim 1 having a pair of said elongated heads, and further wherein said elongated heads are disposed at opposite ends of said filament.

Claim 19

A surgical fastener according to claim 17 wherein at least one end of each of said pair of elongated heads is bevelled to form a sharp point.

Claim 20

A surgical fastener according to claim 17 wherein both ends of each of said pair of elongated heads are sharply pointed.

Claim 21

A surgical fastener according to claim 19 wherein both ends of each of said pair of elongated heads are bevelled to form sharp points.

Claim 22

A surgical fastener comprising: a resilient filament that is relatively flexible along its length; and at least one elongated head that is relatively inflexible along its length; said at least one elongated head being attached to said filament so that when said fastener is unstressed said filament is substantially perpendicular to said at least one elongated head; and at least one end of said elongated head being sharply pointed; whereby when said at least one elongated head is driven lengthwise into tissue while said filament is bent adjacent said at least one elongated head so that at least a portion thereof extends substantially parallel to said at least one elongated head, the resiliency of said filament will cause said elongated head to tend to turn to restore the original perpendicular position of said filament relative to said at least one elongated head, so that said at least one sharply pointed end of said at least one elongated head will embed itself further into said tissue, whereupon said fastener will be securely anchored in said tissue and may not be easily withdrawn by pulling on said filament.

Claim 23

A surgical fastener comprising: a resilient filament that is relatively flexible along its length; and at least one elongated head that is relatively inflexible along its length; said at least one elongated head being attached to said filament so that when said fastener is unstressed said filament is substantially perpendicular to said at least one elongated head; and at least one end of said elongated head being sharply pointed; whereby when said at least one elongated head is driven lengthwise into tissue while said filament is bent adjacent said at least one elongated head so that at least a portion thereof extends substantially parallel to said at least one elongated head, the resiliency of said filament will cause said elongated head to tend to turn to restore the original perpendicular position of said filament relative to said at least one elongated head, so that said at least one sharply pointed end of said at least one elongated head will embed itself further into said tissue, whereupon said fastener will be securely anchored in said tissue and may not be easily withdrawn by pulling on said filament.

Claim 24

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 wherein said filament has at least one rib thereon to engage a washer.

Claim 25

A surgical fastener according to claim 22 wherein said at least one rib is conically shaped.

Claim 26

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 wherein said at least one end of said at least one elongated head is bevelled to form a sharp point at said at least one end.

Claim 27

A surgical fastener according to claim 24 wherein said sharp point is eccentric of the longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.

Claim 28

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 wherein said at least one elongated head is pointed eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.

Claim 29

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 having at least three heads connected by portions of said filaments.

Claim 30

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 wherein said filament has an outer diameter of about 0.015 inches, said at least one elongated head has an outer diameter of about 0.030 inches, and said at least one elongated head has a length of about 0.18 inches.

Claim 31

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 wherein said fastener is formed out of a polylactide copolymer or a glycolide copolymer or a nylon or a polyethylene or a carbonate polymer or a polyether ester copolymer.

Claim 32

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 having two elongated heads connected by said filament.

Claim 33

A surgical fastener according to claim 30 wherein at least one end of each of said pair of elongated heads is bevelled to form a sharp point.

Claim 34

A surgical fastener according to claim 30 wherein both ends of each of said pair of elongated heads are sharply pointed.

Claim 35

A surgical fastener according to claim 32 wherein both ends of each of said pair of elongated heads are bevelled to form sharp points.

Claim 36

A surgical fastener according to claim 21 wherein both ends of said at least one elongated head are sharply pointed.

Claim 37

A surgical fastener according to claim 34 wherein both ends of said at least one elongated head are bevelled to form sharp points.

Claim 38

A surgical fastener according to claim 35 wherein both of said sharp points are eccentric of the longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.

Claim 39

A surgical fastener according to claim 36 wherein said sharp points are disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said at least one elongated head.