Staples for generating and applying compression within a body

Abstract

Apparatus for generating, applying and maintaining compression to a site in a human or animal body, the apparatus comprising: a staple comprising: a bridge configured to be elastically bendable; a first leg connected to the bridge by a first hinge region configured to be elastically bendable; and a second leg connected to the bridge by a second hinge region configured to be elastically bendable; wherein the first hinge region comprises a first hole configured to mate with a first element of a delivery device and the second hinge region comprises a second hole configured to mate with a second element of a delivery device; and wherein the first and second legs are angled toward one another when they are in an unstrained state; whereby, when the staple is mounted to a delivery device so that the first hole of the first hinge region mates with a first element of a delivery device and the second hole of the second hinge region mates with a second element of a delivery device, and when the delivery device applies a force to the bridge of the staple so as to reconfigure the bridge of the staple, the first and second legs are pivoted away from one another toward a parallel disposition.

1 . Apparatus for generating, applying and maintaining compression to a site in a human or animal body, the apparatus comprising:
 a staple comprising:
 a bridge configured to be elastically bendable; 
 a first leg connected to the bridge by a first hinge region configured to be elastically bendable; and 
 a second leg connected to the bridge by a second hinge region configured to be elastically bendable; 
 wherein the first hinge region comprises a first hole configured to mate with a first element of a delivery device and the second hinge region comprises a second hole configured to mate with a second element of a delivery device; and 
 wherein the first and second legs are angled toward one another when they are in an unstrained state; 
   whereby, when the staple is mounted to a delivery device so that the first hole of the first hinge region mates with a first element of a delivery device and the second hole of the second hinge region mates with a second element of a delivery device, and when the delivery device applies a force to the bridge of the staple so as to reconfigure the bridge of the staple, the first and second legs are pivoted away from one another toward a parallel disposition.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the bridge has a non-linear configuration when it is in an unstrained state, and further wherein when a delivery device applies a force to the bridge of a staple, the bridge is reconfigured from a non-linear configuration toward a linear configuration. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the staple comprises a shape memory material. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the shape memory material comprises Nitinol. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the bridge has a curved configuration when the bridge is in an unstrained state. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the bridge is curved away from the first and second legs when the bridge is in an unstrained state. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the bridge has a stepped configuration when the bridge is in an unstrained state. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the staple comprises more than two legs. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a delivery device, the delivery device comprising:
 a first element sized to be received in the first hole of the first hinge region of the staple; 
 a second element sized to be received in the second hole of the second hinge region of the staple; and 
 a plunger adapted to apply a force to the bridge of the staple so as to reconfigure the bridge of the staple from a non-linear configuration toward a linear configuration. 
 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the delivery device comprises a body, the first element is mounted to a first arm which is pivotally connected to the body, the second element is mounted to a second arm which is pivotally connected to the body, and the plunger is movably mounted to the body. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the plunger is movably mounted to the body so as to allow the user to control the amount of force applied to the bridge of the staple. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the staple and the delivery device are packaged as a sterilized kit. 
     
     
         13 . A method for generating, applying and maintaining compression to a site in a human or animal body, the method comprising:
 providing a staple comprising:
 a bridge configured to be elastically bendable; 
 a first leg connected to the bridge by a first hinge region configured to be elastically bendable; and 
 a second leg connected to the bridge by a second hinge region configured to be elastically bendable; 
 wherein the first hinge region comprises a first hole configured to mate with a first element of a delivery device and the second hinge region comprises a second hole configured to mate with a second element of a delivery device; and 
 wherein the first and second legs are angled toward one another when they are in an unstrained state; 
   providing a delivery device comprising:
 a first element sized to be received in the first hole of the first hinge region of the staple; 
 a second element sized to be received in the second hole of the second hinge region of the staple; and 
 a plunger adapted to apply a force to the bridge of the staple so as to reconfigure the bridge of the staple; 
   mounting the staple to the delivery device so that the first hole of the first hinge region mates with the first element of the delivery device and the second hole of the second hinge region mates with the second element of the delivery device;   applying a force to the bridge of the staple with the plunger of the delivery device so as to reconfigure the bridge of the staple such that the first and second legs are pivoted away from one another toward a parallel disposition;   inserting the staple into a site in a human or animal body;   withdrawing the plunger of the delivery device from the bridge of the staple so as to cause the staple to apply compression to the site in a human or animal body as the staple reconfigures; and   releasing the staple from the delivery device.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the bridge has a non-linear configuration when it is in an unstrained state, and further wherein when the delivery device applies a force to the bridge of a staple, the bridge is reconfigured from a non-linear configuration toward a linear configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the staple comprises a shape memory material. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the shape memory material comprises Nitinol. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the bridge has a curved configuration when the bridge is in an unstrained state. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the bridge is curved away from the first and second legs when the bridge is in an unstrained state. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the bridge has a stepped configuration when the bridge is in an unstrained state. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the staple comprises more than two legs.