Surgical Fastener Assembly for Attaching a Prosthesis

Abstract

A surgical fastener assembly for attaching a prosthesis to soft tissue is provided. The surgical fastener assembly includes a continuous helical coil having a distal end and a proximal end. The helical coil is fabricated from an implantable metal. The surgical fastener assembly further includes a cap secured to the proximal end of the helical coil. The cap is fabricated from an implantable polymer.

1 . A surgical fastener assembly for attaching a prosthesis to soft tissue, the surgical fastener assembly comprising:
 a continuous helical coil having a distal end and a proximal end, the helical coil being fabricated from an implantable metal; and   a cap secured to the proximal end of the helical coil, the cap being fabricated from an implantable polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the helical coil has a diameter and defines a coil lumen extending axially therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the cap defines a central opening axially aligned with the coil lumen of the helical coil. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the cap defines at least one rotation receiving feature for receiving rotational forces from a fastener applying tool. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one rotation receiving feature is defined in an outer surface of the cap. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the implantable metal is stainless steel. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the helical coil is a sharpened tip. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is biodegradable. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the helical coil has a diameter and defines a coil lumen extending axially therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the cap defines a central opening axially aligned with the coil lumen of the helical coil. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the cap defines at least one rotation receiving surface for receiving rotational forces from a fastener applying tool. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one rotation receiving feature is defined in an outer surface of the cap. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the helical coil has between two and ten turns. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly has a proximal to distal length between one and ten millimeters. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the diameter is between one and six millimeters. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical fastener assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the distance between turns is between one quarter of a millimeter and three millimeters.