Barrel pinch fastener and applier

1. A surgical fastener for terminating a flow of fluid through a body lumen, comprising:

an outer barrel having an annular side wall including at least a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end;

an inner barrel rotatably coupled within the outer barrel, the inner barrel having an annular side wall including a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end, wherein the coupled inner and outer barrels are open ended in a common direction, each radial slot of the pair formed in the side wall of the inner barrel corresponding to a respective one of the radial slots formed in the outer barrel;

wherein the surgical fastener has a biased open position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel are radially aligned with the radial slots of the inner barrel, and a biased closed position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel and inner barrel are out of radial alignment and configured to constrict the body lumen at two locations along the length thereof; and

wherein the fastener includes a biasing element, and the outer barrel and the inner barrel are biased to one of the closed position and the open position without the biasing element obstructing any of the radial slots.

2. The surgical fastener according to claim 1 , wherein each of the outer and inner barrels has an end wall provided at a proximal end thereof and has an open distal end.

3. The surgical fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the slots in each of the outer and inner barrels extend through their respective open distal ends.

4. The surgical fastener according to claim 3 , wherein the end wall of the inner barrel includes a central opening formed therethrough and a nub extending from a proximal surface of the end wall, the nub being configured and dimensioned to be received within the central opening formed in the end wall of the outer barrel.

5. The surgical fastener according to claim 4 , further including a biasing element disposed about the nub of the inner barrel for biasing the inner and outer barrels to the closed position, the biasing element including a first leg in operative engagement with the slot defined by the protrusion of the outer barrel and a second leg in operative engagement with the nub of the inner barrel.

6. The surgical fastener according to claim 5 , further including a release rod configured and dimensioned to be removably received within a release hole formed in each of the end walls of the inner and outer barrels, wherein when the release rod is received within the release holes, the fastener is maintained in the biased open position.

7. The surgical fastener according to claim 5 , wherein the central opening of the end wall of the outer barrel includes at least one stop extending radially inward from an inner edge of the central opening and wherein the nub of the inner barrel includes at least one lug extending radially outward therefrom, wherein the lug engages the stop in order to prevent free rotation of the inner and outer barrels with respect to one another.

8. The surgical fastener according to claim 6 , wherein the shape of the slots is selected from the group consisting of rectangular, tapered, helical and tear-drop.

9. The surgical fastener according to claim 8 , wherein the slots have longitudinal edges, and the longitudinal edges of the slots of the inner and outer barrels in the biased closed position terminate fluid flow through the constricted lumen atraumatically.

10. The surgical fastener according to claim 2 , wherein the end wall of the outer barrel includes a central opening formed therethrough and the end wall of the inner barrel includes a snap-fit type engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and through the central opening, such that the engagement member of the inner barrel is snap-fit into and engaged with the central opening of the end wall of the outer barrel.

11. The surgical fastener according to claim 10 , further including a rotatable biasing element disposed about the snap-fit type engagement member for rotatably biasing the inner and outer barrels to the closed position, the biasing element including a first leg for engaging a stop member formed on an outer surface of the end wall of the inner barrel and a second leg for engaging a stop member formed on an inner surface of the end wall of the outer barrel.

12. The surgical fastener according to claim 10 , further including a release rod configured and dimensioned to be removably received within a release hole formed in each of the end walls of the inner and outer barrels, the release holes being radially aligned with one another and the release rod being received within the release holes to maintain the inner and outer barrels of the fastener biased in the open position.

13. The surgical fastener according to claim 12 , wherein each outer and inner barrel has an end wall provided at a proximal end thereof and has an open distal end in communication with the radial slot of the respective barrels, and wherein the alignment mechanism includes a hole formed in each end wall, the holes being axially alignable when the barrels are in the open position.

14. The surgical fastener according to claim 10 , wherein the outer barrel includes an annular rim extending proximally from the end wall, and the annular rim includes a protrusion extending radially inward therefrom and defining a stop therein.

15. The surgical fastener according to claim 14 , wherein the stop includes an undercut therein.

16. The surgical fastener according to claim 1 , wherein there is included an alignment mechanism operatively coupled to the inner and outer barrels to maintain the barrels in alignment and biased in the open position.

17. The surgical fastener according to claim 16 , wherein the alignment mechanism includes a rod configured and dimensioned to pass through the respective holes when the barrels are in the biased open position, to releasably maintain the barrels in the biased open position.

18. The surgical fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the slots is selected from the group consisting of rectangular, tapered, helical and tear-drop.

19. The surgical fastener according to claim 18 , wherein the slots have longitudinal edges, and the longitudinal edges of the slots of the inner and outer barrels when in the biased closed position terminate fluid flow through the constricted lumen atraumatically.

20. The surgical fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the inner barrel is concentric relative to the outer barrel.

21. A surgical fastener for terminating a flow of fluid through a body lumen, comprising:

an outer barrel having an annular side wall including at least a pair of open ended radial slots formed therein;

an inner barrel rotatably coupled within the outer barrel, the inner barrel having an annular side wall including a pair of open ended radial slots formed therein, each radial slot of the pair formed in the side wall of the inner barrel corresponding to a respective one of the radial slots formed in the outer barrel; and a biasing element for rotatably biasing the inner barrel and the outer barrel relative to one another without the biasing element obstructing any of the radial slots;

wherein the assembled surgical fastener has a biased open position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel are radially aligned with the radial slots of the inner barrel to define open ended slots, a biased closed position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel and inner barrel are out of radial alignment and configured to constrict the body lumen at two locations along the length thereof between side edges of the radial slots of the inner and outer barrels.

22. A surgical fastener for terminating a flow of fluid through a body lumen, comprising:

an outer barrel having an annular side wall including at least a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end; and

an inner barrel rotatably coupled within the outer barrel, the inner barrel having an annular side wall including a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end, wherein the coupled inner and outer barrels are open ended in a common direction, each radial slot of the pair formed in the side wall of the inner barrel corresponding to a respective one of the radial slots formed in the outer barrel;

wherein the surgical fastener has a biased open position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel are radially aligned with the radial slots of the inner barrel, and a biased closed position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel and inner barrel are out of radial alignment and configured to constrict the body lumen at two locations along the length thereof;

wherein each of the outer and inner barrels has an end wall provided at a proximal end thereof and has an open distal end; and

wherein the end wall of the outer barrel includes a central opening formed therethrough and the end wall of the inner barrel includes a snap-fit type engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and through the central opening, such that the engagement member of the inner barrel is snap-fit into and engaged with the central opening of the end wall of the outer barrel.

23. The surgical fastener according to claim 22 , further including a rotatable biasing element disposed about the snap-fit type engagement member for rotatably biasing the inner and outer barrels to the closed position, the biasing element including a first leg for engaging a stop member formed on an outer surface of the end wall of the inner barrel and a second leg for engaging a stop member formed on an inner surface of the end wall of the outer barrel.

24. The surgical fastener according to claim 22 , further including a release rod configured and dimensioned to be removably received within a release hole formed in each of the end walls of the inner and outer barrels, the release holes being radially aligned with one another and the release rod being received within the release holes to maintain the inner and outer barrels of the fastener biased in the open position.

25. The surgical fastener according to claim 24 , wherein each outer and inner barrel has an end wall provided at a proximal end thereof and has an open distal end in communication with the radial slot of the respective barrels, and wherein the alignment mechanism includes a hole formed in each end wall, the holes being axially alignable when the barrels are in the open position.

26. The surgical fastener according to claim 22 , wherein the outer barrel includes an annular rim extending proximally from the end wall, and the annular rim includes a protrusion extending radially inward therefrom and defining a stop therein.

27. The surgical fastener according to claim 26 , wherein the stop includes an undercut therein.

28. A surgical fastener for terminating a flow of fluid through a body lumen, comprising:

an outer barrel having an annular side wall including at least a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end; and

an inner barrel rotatably coupled within the outer barrel, the inner barrel having an annular side wall including a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end, wherein the coupled inner and outer barrels are open ended in a common direction, each radial slot of the pair formed in the side wall of the inner barrel corresponding to a respective one of the radial slots formed in the outer barrel;

wherein the surgical fastener has a biased open position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel are radially aligned with the radial slots of the inner barrel, and a biased closed position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel and inner barrel are out of radial alignment and configured to constrict the body lumen at two locations along the length thereof;

wherein each of the outer and inner barrels has an end wall provided at a proximal end thereof and has an open distal end;

wherein the slots in each of the outer and inner barrels extend through their respective open distal ends; and

wherein the end wall of the inner barrel includes a central opening formed therethrough and a nub extending from a proximal surface of the end wall, the nub being configured and dimensioned to be received within the central opening formed in the end wall of the outer barrel.

29. The surgical fastener according to claim 28 , further including a biasing element disposed about the nub of the inner barrel for biasing the inner and outer barrels to the closed position, the biasing element including a first leg in operative engagement with the slot defined by the protrusion of the outer barrel and a second leg in operative engagement with the nub of the inner barrel.

30. The surgical fastener according to claim 29 , further including a release rod configured and dimensioned to be removably received within a release hole formed in each of the end walls of the inner and outer barrels, wherein when the release rod is received within the release holes, the fastener is maintained in the biased open position.

31. The surgical fastener according to claim 29 , wherein the central opening of the end wall of the outer barrel includes at least one stop extending radially inward from an inner edge of the central opening and wherein the nub of the inner barrel includes at least one lug extending radially outward therefrom, wherein the lug engages the stop in order to prevent free rotation of the inner and outer barrels with respect to one another.

32. The surgical fastener according to claim 30 , wherein the shape of the slots is selected from the group consisting of rectangular, tapered, helical and tear-drop.

33. The surgical fastener according to claim 32 , wherein the slots have longitudinal edges, and the longitudinal edges of the slots of the inner and outer barrels in the biased closed position terminate fluid flow through the constricted lumen atraumatically.

34. A surgical fastener for terminating a flow of fluid through a body lumen, comprising:

an outer barrel having an annular side wall including at least a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end; and

an inner barrel rotatably coupled within the outer barrel, the inner barrel having an annular side wall including a pair of radial slots formed therein and defining an open end, wherein the coupled inner and outer barrels are open ended in a common direction, each radial slot of the pair formed in the side wall of the inner barrel corresponding to a respective one of the radial slots formed in the outer barrel;

wherein the surgical fastener has a biased open position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel are radially aligned with the radial slots of the inner barrel, and a biased closed position in which the radial slots of the outer barrel and inner barrel are out of radial alignment and configured to constrict the body lumen at two locations along the length thereof;

wherein there is included an alignment mechanism operatively coupled to holes in the inner and outer barrels to maintain the barrels in alignment and biased in the open position; and

wherein the alignment mechanism includes a rod configured and dimensioned to pass through the holes when the barrels are in the biased open position, to releasably maintain the barrels in the biased open position.