Surgical fastening system and method for using the same

1. A method for attaching one piece of tissue to another piece of tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical fastener including a shaft having a bar extending therefrom at a proximal end thereof, and a fin extending therefrom proximate a distal end thereof, the bar and the fin being aligned with each other;

providing an installation tool comprising an elongated tube having at a distal end thereof a carrier portion for releasably retaining the fastener, the carrier portion having at a distal end thereof a cutting edge and an open side portion such that the carrier portion seats the shaft therein and the bar and fin of the fastener extend through the open side portion, and control means for moving the carrier portion out of, and back into, the distal end of the elongated tube; and

manipulating the installation tool and the control means to project the carrier portion and the fastener into the tissue and withdraw the carrier portion from the tissue, whereupon the fin resists proximal movement of the fastener through the tissue, causing the fastener to catch on the tissue such that the carrier portion can be removed from the tissue, leaving the fastener in the tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fin projects radially outward from the fastener with a leading surface of the fin disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinally axis of the fastener and a trailing surface of the fin disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fastener, the angle of the leading surface being less than the angle of trailing surface such that the fin resists proximal movement of the fastener.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bar leans distally relative to the fastener such that the bar provides resistance to distal movement of the fastener through the tissue.

4. A method for attaching a first piece of tissue to a second piece of tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical fastener comprising:

a shaft;

a bar extending radially outwardly from a proximal end of the shaft; and

a fin extending radially outwardly from the shaft proximate a distal end of the shaft, the bar and fin being in alignment with each other along a side of the shaft;

providing an installation tool comprising:

an elongated rigid tube;

a carrier portion movable between a first position in the rigid tube and a second position in which at least a part of the carrier portion extends from a distal end of the rigid tube, the carrier portion being adapted to retain the fastener and having at a distal end thereof a sharpened edge, the carrier portion seating the shaft of the fastener therein and having an open side from which extend end portions of the bar and fin; and

control means for moving the carrier portion and the fastener therein into a body of tissue, and to withdraw the carrier portion from the tissue,

removably connecting the fastener to the carrier portion of the installation tool, with the fin and bar of the fastener in part extending from the open side of the carrier portion, and with the distal end of the fastener disposed within the carrier portion and spaced from the edge of the carrier portion;

placing the distal end of the rigid tube adjacent a first piece of the tissue;

manipulating the installation tool control means to move the carrier portion distally out of the rigid tube and through the first piece of tissue and into a second piece of tissue until the bar engages the first piece of tissue; and

manipulating the installation tool control means to move the carrier portion proximally into the rigid tube, whereupon the fin resists withdrawal of the fastener as the carrier portion is withdrawn therefrom;

whereby to cause withdrawal of the carrier portion from the fastener, to leave the fastener in the tissue.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the bar leans distally relative to the shaft of the fastener such that the bar provides resistance to distal movement of the fastener through the tissue such that the first piece of tissue to moved adjacent to the second piece of tissue.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fin includes with a leading surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinally axis of the shaft of the fastener and a trailing surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the fastener, the angle of the leading surface being less than the angle of trailing surface such that the fin resists withdrawal of the fastener.