Surgical fastener with predetermined resorption rate

1. An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector comprising:

an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;

an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube, wherein the inner tube assembly houses at least one screw fastener;

a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly, wherein the cam spiral sub-assembly includes:

a cam spiral having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end defining a helical thread;

a pilot including a pointed distal end extending longitudinally from the distal end of the cam spiral; and

a fastener retainer operatively supported on the distal end of the cam spiral;

wherein rotation of the cam spiral rotates the pilot and the fastener retainer, wherein the fastener retainer includes a pair of opposed longitudinally extending rails configured to guide the screw fastener along the cam spiral sub-assembly; and

a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly, wherein each screw fastener, includes:

a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the body portion having a helical thread formed thereon, at least a portion of the helical thread including a recess formed in diametrically opposed outer radial edges thereof; and

an unthreaded head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the head portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the head portion having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the unthreaded head portion having a driver receiving structure formed thereon,

wherein the driver receiving structure includes a pair of diametrically opposed recesses formed in an outer radial edge of the unthreaded head portion, the opposed recesses formed in the unthreaded head portion being substantially in radial registration with the recesses formed in the helical thread, the opposed recesses formed in the unthreaded head portion being configured to slidably receive the rails of the fastener retainer therein.

2. The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the cam spiral sub-assembly further includes:

a screw fastener pusher configured to push a proximal-most screw fastener in a distal direction; and

a feed spring configured to act on the screw fastener pusher; wherein the feed spring and the screw fastener pusher are disposed on the pilot, the feed spring being disposed between the distal end of the cam spiral and the screw fastener such that the feed spring biases the screw fastener pusher in the distal direction to maintain a force against the screw fastener.

3. The end effector according to claim 1 , wherein the screw fastener is a resorbable screw fastener.

4. An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector being selectively connectable to a handle assembly, the end effector comprising:

an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;

an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube, the inner tube assembly including:

a cylindrical body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a torque ring supported on the distal end of the cylindrical body, the torque ring including at least one engagement feature configured to engage a screw fastener; and

a retaining ring in axial alignment with the torque ring, wherein the retaining ring is in axial alignment with the at least one engagement feature of the torque ring;

a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly, the cam spiral sub-assembly including:

a screw fastener pusher configured to push a proximal-most screw fastener in a distal direction; and

a feed spring configured to act on the screw fastener pusher; wherein the feed spring biases the screw fastener pusher in the distal direction to maintain a force against the screw fastener; and

a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly.

5. The end effector according to claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical body includes a transversely oriented rotational slot for slidably receiving a pin extending from the cam spiral driver such that the rotational slot limits the rotation of the cam spiral driver.

6. The end effector according to claim 5 , wherein the rotational slot is sized to limit the rotation of the cam spiral driver to approximately 90 degrees.

7. The end effector according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one engagement feature of the torque ring extends radially inward therefrom and is configured to mate with a corresponding slot defined in a head of the screw fastener.

8. The end effector according to claim 4 , wherein the retaining ring includes at least one tab configured to hold a distal screw fastener at a distal end of the inner tube assembly to prevent the feed spring of the cam spiral sub-assembly from driving the distal most screw fastener prior to implantation in a target tissue.

9. The end effector according to claim 8 , wherein the retaining ring includes a plurality of tabs extending radially inward therefrom, the plurality of tabs offset by approximately 90 degrees relative to one another.

10. The end effector according to claim 8 , wherein when a trigger of a handle assembly is actuated from a first position to a second position, the cam spiral driver is rotated to rotate and translate the cam spiral sub-assembly and the inner tube assembly such that the distal screw fastener is advanced distally an amount sufficient to push the distal screw fastener beyond the at least one tab of the retaining ring.

11. The end effector according claim 4 , wherein a distal end of the outer tube is crenellated such that the outer tube maintains a firm connection against a target tissue.

12. The end effector according to claim 4 , wherein the screw fastener is a resorbable screw fastener.

13. An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector comprising:

an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;

an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube, wherein the inner tube assembly houses at least one screw fastener;

a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly, wherein the cam spiral sub-assembly includes:

a cam spiral having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end defining a helical thread;

a pilot including a pointed distal end extending longitudinally from the distal end of the cam spiral; and

a fastener retainer operatively supported on the distal end of the cam spiral;

wherein rotation of the cam spiral rotates the pilot and the fastener retainer, wherein the fastener retainer includes a pair of opposed longitudinally extending rails configured to guide the screw fastener along the cam spiral sub-assembly; and

a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly, wherein each screw fastener, includes:

a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the body portion having a helical thread formed thereon; and

an unthreaded head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the head portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the head portion having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the unthreaded head portion having a driver receiving structure formed thereon,

wherein the driver receiving structure includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots formed in an outer radial edge of the unthreaded head portion, the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion extend along a length of the body portion such that corresponding opposed slots are defined in the helical thread, wherein the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion are in radial registration with the corresponding opposed slots formed in the helical thread.

14. An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector comprising:

an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;

an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube, wherein the inner tube assembly houses at least one screw fastener, wherein each screw fastener, includes:

a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the body portion having a helical thread formed thereon; and

an unthreaded head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the head portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the head portion having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the unthreaded head portion having a driver receiving structure formed thereon,

wherein the driver receiving structure includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots formed in an outer radial edge of the unthreaded head portion, the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion extend along a length of the body portion such that corresponding opposed slots are defined in the helical thread, wherein the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion are in radial registration with the corresponding opposed slots formed in the helical thread, the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion being configured to slidably receive the rails of the fastener retainer therein;

a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly; and

a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly.

15. An end effector for storing and firing a screw fastener, the end effector comprising:

an outer tube defining a longitudinal axis;

an inner tube assembly rotatably supported within the outer tube, wherein the inner tube assembly houses at least one screw fastener, wherein each screw fastener, includes:

a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the body portion having a helical thread formed thereon, at least a portion of the helical thread including a recess formed in an outer radial edge thereof; and

an unthreaded head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the head portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the head portion having a distal surface extending non-perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the unthreaded head portion having a driver receiving structure formed thereon,

wherein the driver receiving structure includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots formed in an outer radial edge of the unthreaded head portion, the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion extend along a length of the body portion such that corresponding opposed slots are defined in the helical thread, wherein the opposed slots formed in the unthreaded head portion are in radial registration with the corresponding opposed slots formed in the helical thread;

a cam spiral sub-assembly rotatably supported within the inner tube assembly; and

a cam spiral driver operatively connected to the cam spiral sub-assembly such that rotation of the cam spiral driver rotates the cam spiral sub-assembly.