DEVICES, SYSTEM, AND METHODS FOR GUIDING AN OPERATIVE TOOL INTO AN INTERIOR BODY REGION
A guide device establishes a guide passage through a guide tube, through which an operative tool can be deployed into an interior body region for use. A steering assembly, in use, deflects or bends the distal end region of the guide tube, so that the operative tool can be placed in a desired orientation with respect to tissue. The steering assembly is desirable configured for single handed operation by the clinician. The steering assembly is also desirably configured to provide a mechanical advantage sufficient to translate relatively small increments of clinician control an to relatively larger increments of guide tube deflection. In one arrangement, the steering assembly includes a rack and pinion linkage system. In another arrangement, the steering assembly includes a pivoting lever system.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A handheld tack applier system for securing a prosthesis to underlying soft tissue, the tack applier system, comprising,
a handle assembly including:
a handle;
a guide tube extending from the handle, the guide tube including a deflectable distal end, the guide tube defining a longitudinal axis;
a drive mechanism supported by the handle;
a fastener driver rotatably coupled to the drive mechanism and extending through the guide tube, the fastener driver rotatable within the guide tube by the drive mechanism, the fastener including a coupling feature configured and adapted to rotate a fastener supported at a distal end thereof;
a fastener disposed at the distal end of the fastener driver, the fastener including:
a continuous stainless steel helical coil with a sharpened leading tip at a distal end thereof; and
a rotation receiving feature configured to receive rotational forces from the fastener driver;
wherein the fastener driver rotates the fastener when the drive mechanism is actuated.
12 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 11 , wherein the handle assembly includes a steering assembly for deflecting the distal end of the guide tube relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube, the steering assembly including:
an actuator supported on the handle of the handle assembly; and
a deflecting component operatively connected at a first end thereof to the actuator, and at a second end thereof to the distal end of the guide tube;
wherein actuation of the actuator acts on the deflecting component to deflect the distal end of the guide tube relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube.
13 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 12 , wherein the deflecting component of the steering assembly is a wire extending between and interconnecting the actuator and the distal end of the guide tube.
14 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 11 , wherein the fastener includes a cap secured to a proximal end of the helical coil thereof, the cap being constructed from an implantable polymer.
15 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 14 , wherein the cap is non-rotatably and selectively connected to the drive member of the elongate fastener assembly.
16 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 15 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises:
a drive member supported on a distal end of the fastener driver, the drive member being configured to engage the cap of the fastener and impart rotation to the fastener.
17 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 16 , wherein the helical coil of the fastener has a diameter and defines a coil lumen extending axially therethrough.
18 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 17 , wherein the cap of the fastener defines a central opening axially aligned with the coil lumen of the helical coil.
19 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 18 , wherein the cap of the fastener defines at least one rotation receiving feature for receiving rotational forces from the fastener driver.
20 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one rotation receiving feature is defined in an outer surface of the cap of the fastener.
21 . The handheld tack applier system according to claim 11 , wherein the guide tube includes is a multi-lumen tubular member.
22 . A surgical system, comprising:
a surgical prosthesis; and
a handheld tack applier system for securing the prosthesis to underlying soft tissue, the tack applier system, including,
a handle assembly including:
a handle;
a guide tube extending from the handle, the guide tube including a deflectable distal end, the guide tube defining a longitudinal axis;
a drive mechanism supported by the handle;
a fastener driver rotatably coupled to the drive mechanism and extending through the guide tube, the fastener driver rotatable within the guide tube by the drive mechanism, the fastener including a coupling feature configured and adapted to rotate a fastener supported at a distal end thereof;
a fastener disposed at the distal end of the fastener driver, the fastener including:
a continuous stainless steel helical coil with a sharpened leading tip at a distal end thereof; and
a rotation receiving feature configured to receive rotational forces from the fastener driver;
wherein the fastener driver rotates the fastener when the drive mechanism is actuated.
23 . The surgical system according to claim 22 , wherein the handle assembly includes a steering assembly for deflecting the distal end of the guide tube relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube, the steering assembly including:
an actuator supported on the handle of the handle assembly; and
a deflecting component operatively connected at a first end thereof to the actuator, and at a second end thereof to the distal end of the guide tube;
wherein actuation of the actuator acts on the deflecting component to deflect the distal end of the guide tube relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube.
24 . The surgical system according to claim 23 , wherein the deflecting component of the steering assembly is a wire extending between and interconnecting the actuator and the distal end of the guide tube.
25 . The surgical system according to claim 23 , wherein the fastener includes a cap secured to a proximal end of the helical coil thereof, the cap being constructed from an implantable polymer.
26 . The surgical system according to claim 25 , wherein the cap is non-rotatably and selectively connected to the drive member of the elongate fastener assembly.
27 . The surgical system according to claim 26 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises:
a drive member supported on a distal end of the fastener driver, the drive member being configured to engage the cap of the fastener and impart rotation to the fastener.
28 . The surgical system according to claim 27 , wherein the helical coil of the fastener has a diameter and defines a coil lumen extending axially therethrough.
29 . The surgical system according to claim 28 , wherein the cap of the fastener defines a central opening axially aligned with the coil lumen of the helical coil.
30 . The surgical system according to claim 29 , wherein the cap of the fastener defines at least one rotation receiving feature for receiving rotational forces from the fastener driver.
31 . The surgical system according to claim 30 , wherein the at least one rotation receiving feature is defined in an outer surface of the cap of the fastener.
32 . The surgical system according to claim 22 , wherein the guide tube includes is a multi-lumen tubular member.