US 12,245,765 B2
Surgical fasteners for articulating surgical instruments
Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Hope, RI (US); Augustus Felix, Cranston, RI (US); Derek Affonce, Uxbridge, MA (US); and Kevin J. Ranucci, Warwick, RI (US)
Assigned to C.R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US)
Filed by C.R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/602,564.
Application 18/602,564 is a division of application No. 17/174,511, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Application 17/174,511 is a division of application No. 15/867,063, filed on Jan. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,932,776.
Prior Publication US 2024/0215978 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/84 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/846 (2013.01); A61B 17/8872 (2013.01); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0647 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07228 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0803 (2016.02)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
moving a fastener carrier from a non-articulated configuration to a fully articulated configuration, wherein the fastener carrier extends distally from a handle of a surgical instrument, wherein a fastener is provided on the fastener carrier, the fastener including a head, a shaft extending distally from the head, and a through bore extending through the shaft from a proximal surface of the head to a distal end of the shaft, and wherein the fastener carrier is slidably received in the through bore; and
contacting the through bore with the fastener carrier at two or fewer contact points when the fastener carrier is in the fully articulated configuration.