Expanding absorbable tack

Abstract

A surgical fastener is disclosed, and includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the engagement member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.

1 . A surgical fastener comprising:
 a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section; and   a tissue snaring section defining a longitudinal axis and extending away from the head section, at least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section;   wherein the tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the engagement member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the head section includes a threaded section. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement member is disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member has an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A surgical fastener comprising:
 a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section; and   a tissue snaring section defining a longitudinal axis and extending away from the head section, at least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section;   wherein the engagement member is configured such that, in a first condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially inward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a first transverse head section diameter is defined, and in a second condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a different, second transverse head section diameter is defined.   
     
     
         7 . The surgical fastener of  claim 6 , wherein the head section includes a threaded section. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical fastener of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement member is disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical fastener of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical fastener of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement member has an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical fastener of  claim 10 , wherein, in the first configuration, the arcuate configuration of the engagement member approximates the curvature of a surface of the head section. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical fastener of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement member is configured to pivot between and including 0 degrees and 180 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical fastener of  claim 6 , wherein the surgical fastener is configured to be disposed within a delivery device, and, wherein the surgical fastener is configured to be maintained in the first condition by engagement with the delivery device. 
     
     
         14 . A method of deploying a surgical fastener including a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed thereon and a tissue snaring section extending away from the head section, comprising:
 loading the surgical fastener in a delivery device such that the engagement member of the head section is disposed in a first, radially constrained configuration; and   advancing the surgical fastener out of the delivery device such that the engagement member pivots radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section in a second, deployed configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of advancing the surgical fastener includes actuating the delivery device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of advancing the surgical fastener through a mesh and into tissue such that, in the deployed configuration, the mesh is compressed against tissue.