Apparatus and method for delivering surgical tissue connectors into an abdominal cavity and removing the surgical tissue connectors from the abdominal cavity

摘要

[0001] The present invention is directed to an apparatus and its method of use in delivering surgical tissue connectors into an area of the body and removing the surgical tissue connectors from the body area. Svlore specifically, the present invention is directed to a surgical tissue connector apparatus having at least two tissue connectors connected by a length of cord and a delivery and removai tube. At least one of the tissue connectors has a base with a tapered, beveled or chamfered surface projecting from one end of the base. A hook or other type of tissue connector projects from the opposite side of the base. The hook is positioned on the base where a peripheral side surface of the base shields the hook from unintentionally snagging objects. The base peripheral surface is also dimensioned to slide easily through an interior bore of the tube. This enables the base and the projecting hook to be easily delivered through the tube into an area of the body. The chamfered or tapered surface on the base is positioned to engage with the distal end opening of the tube and direct the base into the center of the tube as the surgical tissue connector is retracted info the tube from the body area in removing the apparatus from the abdominal cavity.