WO2011017066A1

WO2011017066A1 - Impacting anvil assembly and method for impacting surgical fasteners

Info

Publication number: WO2011017066A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/043297
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Viola
Original assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group Lp
Priority date: 2009-08-04
Filing date: 2010-07-27
Publication date: 2011-02-10

Abstract

An impacting anvil assembly includes an anvil and a hammer. The anvil is configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener. The hammer is one or more of rotationally or axially movable relative to the anvil such that rapid impact of the hammer with the anvil causes rapid rotation of the anvil to rotate the surgical fastener. A method for mounting the surgical fastener is also disclosed.

Description

IMPACTING ANVIL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR IMPACTING SURGICAL

FASTENERS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional

Application Serial No. 61/231,059 filed on August 4, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for impacting surgical fasteners into tissue. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for rotating surgical fasteners into tissue by rapidly accelerating the surgical fasteners to avoid bunching or twisting of the tissue with the rotating surgical fastener. Various surgical procedures require the use of surgical fasteners to secure tissues together or to secure prosthetic material to tissue. Often the surgical fasteners used are of the types which require them to be rotated into place through the tissue(s) and/or prosthetic material. In many surgical procedures, it is necessary to drive the threaded surgical fasteners into relatively tough tissue such as, for example, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, etc.

Description of Related Art

[0003] Various surgical procedures require the use of surgical fasteners to secure tissues together or to secure prosthetic material to tissue. Often the surgical fasteners used are of the types which require them to be rotated into place through the tissue(s) and/or prosthetic material. In many surgical procedures, it is necessary to drive the threaded surgical fasteners into relatively tough tissue such as, for example, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, etc.

|0004| Due to the relatively high torque needed to drive these surgical fasteners, there is a tendency for the tissue to adhere to and rotate with the surgical fastener. Additionally, at low rotational speeds, the tissue must provide one hundred percent of the counter-torque to resist turning. This may cause the tissue to wrap around the fastener, inhibiting the ability of the surgical fastener to screw into the tissue.

J0005] Therefore, a need exists for devices and methods of driving and rotating surgical fasteners into relatively tough tissue without applying excessive and/or traumatic torquing of the tissue.

SUMMARY

[0006] Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to an impacting anvil assembly including an anvil and a hammer. The anvil is rotatably supported on an elongate support shaft disposed in mechanical cooperation with a driving apparatus and is configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener. The anvil includes a bore configured and dimensioned to receive the hammer. The bore of the anvil may include first and second sections. One or more of the rim sections may be at least partially angled. The anvil may include one or more impacted surfaces. The one or more impacted surfaces project from the bore of the anvil. The one or more impacted surfaces may be located at a juncture of the first and second sections. The anvil may include one or more projections projecting from the bore of the anvil. The one or more projections are configured and dimensioned to be engaged by the hammer.

(0007) The hammer is rotationally and/or axially movable relative to the anvil such that rapid impacts of the hammer with the anvil cause rotation of the anvil which is configured and dimensioned to rotate the surgical fastener. The hammer includes one or more impacting surfaces. The one or more impacting surfaces and the one or more impacted surfaces are configured and dimensioned to engage each other. In embodiments, the hammer may be formed with first and second offset cylindrical halves, wherein the one or more impacting surfaces are located at a juncture between the first and second offset cylindrical halves. The hammer is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a hammer drive shaft having a through bore. The hammer drive shaft is operably associated with the driving apparatus such that the hammer driveshaft is movable about the elongate support shaft. The hammer may include one or more grooves configured and dimensioned to receive the one or rriore projections of the anvil such that axial movement of the hammer relative to the anvil causes rotation of the anvil. The hammer may include one or more angled sections engagable with the one or more rim sections that are partially angled such that the anvil rotates relative to the hammer.

(0008) In one aspect, an impacting anvil assembly includes an anvil and a hammer.

The anvil is configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener, includes a bore, and has one or more projecting impacted faces. The anvil is rotatably supported on an elongate support shaft.

|0009) The hammer is rotatable within the bore of the anvil. The hammer has one or more impacting faces engagable with the one or more projecting impacted faces of the anvil such that the surgical fastener rapidly rotates in response to rapid impact between the one or more impacting faces and the one or more projecting impacted faces. The hammer includes a hammer driver shaft having a bore for reception of the elongate support shaft.

[0010] In another aspect, an impacting anvil assembly includes an anvil and a hammer. The anvil is configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener. The anvil has a rim including first and second rim sections. One or more of the rim sections are at least partially angled. [0011] The hammer is movable relative to the anvil. The hammer includes one or more angled sections engagable with the one or more rim sections that are at least partially angled such that the anvil rotates relative to the hammer.

[0012] In one aspect, a method for mounting a surgical fastener includes providing an impacting anvil assembly including an anvil and a hammer; translating the hammer via one or more of axial or rotational motion; causing the hammer to accelerate; affixing a surgical fastener to the anvil; and causing the hammer to impact the anvil such that sufficient energy is transferred from the hammer to the surgical fastener for mounting the surgical fastener to a patient.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00131 Various embodiments of the presently disclosed impacting anvil are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical fastener being driven into tissue utilizing a prior art method;

[0015] FlG. 2 is a perspective view of a surgical fastener and an impacting anvil assembly with a powered driving apparatus shown in phantom;

[0016] FIG. 3 is an end view of one embodiment of a hammer of the impacting anvil assembly;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an end view of one embodiment of an anvil of the impacting anvil assembly;

[0018] FIG. 5A is an end view of the impacting anvil assembly including the hammer and anvil prior to actuation;

[0019] FIG. 5B is an end view of the impacting anvil assembly including the hammer and anvil during actuation;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hammer of the impacting anvil assembly; [0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hammer and anvil of the impacting anvil assembly including associated drive shafts;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an anvil for driving a surgical fastener;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hammer including an associated driveshaft;

[0024] FIG. 1 OA is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an impacting anvil assembly including the anvil of FIG. 8 and the hammer of FIG. 9 prior to actuation;

[0025] FIG. 1 OB is a perspective view of the impacting anvil assembly of FIG. 10 during actuation;

[0026] FIG. 1 1 is an end view of a further alternative embodiment of an anvil for driving a surgical fastener;

[0027] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the anvil of FIG. 1 1 ;

[0028] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hammer;

[0029] FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an impacting anvil assembly including the anvil of FIG. 12 and the hammer of FIG. 13 and their associated drive shafts prior to actuation; and

[0030] FIG. 14B is a perspective view of be impacting anvil assembly of FIG. 14 during actuation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Embodiments of the presently disclosed impacting anvil assembly will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As is common in the art, the term

'proximal" refers to that part or component closer to the user or operator, i.e., surgeon or physician, while the term "distal" refers to that part or component farther away from the user. [0032] Referring initially to FlG. 1 , there is illustrated a surgical fastener 10 having a head 12 and an elongate tapered shaft 14 extending distal Iy from head 12. Tapered shaft 14 includes a helical thread 16 and terminates in a tissue penetrating tip 18 (FIG. 2). Head 12 has a hexagonal configuration for engagement with a driving apparatus. While head 12 is illustrated as being hexagonal, other configurations, such as, for example, slotted, etc. may be used for engagement with the driving apparatus.

(0033] In a prior art method, surgical fastener 10 is rotated at a low rotational speed into a relatively tough tissue "TT." At this low rotational speed, tough tissue "TT^" must provide 100% of the counter-torque to resist the rotation of surgical fastener 10 to prevent the tissue from wrapping around surgical fastener 10. Due to the need for a relatively high torque to drive surgical fastener 10 into tough tissue "TT", there is a tendency for tough tissue "TT" to rotate with surgical fastener 10. This common rotation causes surgical fastener 10 to apply traumatic torsional forces to tough tissue "TT" and which ultimately inhibits surgical fastener 10 from screwing into tough tissue "TT."

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is disclosed a first embodiment of an impacting anvil assembly 100 for use with a driving apparatus 20. Driving apparatus 20 generally includes a pistol grip handle 24 connected to a power source "PS" via conduit 26 and a hammer drive shaft "D" extending therefrom. Power source "PS" may provide electricity to power a motor (not shown) within pistol grip handle 24. Alternatively, the power source "PS" may be hydraulic, pneumatic, etc. so as to deliver energy to impacting anvil assembly 100. A trigger 28 is provided on pistol grip handle 24 to actuate driving apparatus 20.

[0035] Impacting anvil assembly 100 generally includes a socket or anvil 1 10 and a hammer 120 rotationally and/or axially movably mounted relative to anvil 1 10. Anvil 1 10 defines a receptacle 1 12 for engaging head 12 of surgical fastener 10. Hammer 120 is disposed in mechanical cooperation with hammer drive shaft "D" for positioning hammer 120 into engagement with anvil 1 10.

[0036] In general, hammer 120, which is a rotating mass, is accelerated by hammer drive shaft "D" that is energized by the motor of driving apparatus 20. In this manner, energy is stored over time, allowing a very strong, but short output impulse to be generated from low levels of constant input force. During acceleration, the stored energy is rotationally transferred to anvil 1 10 upon impact from hammer 120, creating a high-torque impact. The resultant impact causes the anvil 1 10 to be rotated through a partial revolution. The hammer 120 and the anvil 1 10 (and thus the surgical fastener 10) may be configured and dimensioned to rotate less than 90 degrees per iteration. After delivering the impact, hammer 120 can be configured and dimensioned to spin freely without locking. As such, a very high peak torque is delivered to anvil 1 10 and minimal reaction forces are applied to driving apparatus 20. Thus, rapid movement of hammer 120 into engagement with anvil 1 10 causes a rapid acceleration of surgical fastener 10 into tough tissue "TT" with limited torsional resistance from the tough tissue "TT."

[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 3-7 and initially with regard to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, hammer 120 includes first and second offset cylindrical halves 122 and 124. First cylindrical half 122 has a first end 122a and a second end 122b. Second cylindrical half 124 has a first end 124a and a second end 124b. Hammer 120 has a planar distal face 126.

[0038] In order to impact anvil 1 10, first cylindrical half 122 of hammer 120 includes a first arcuate portion 121 extending between first end 122a and second end 122b. A first impacting face 125 is defined at the junction of second end 122b of first cylindrical half 122 and first end 124a of second cylindrical half 124. Likewise, second cylindrical half 124 includes a second arcuate portion 123 extending between first end 124a of second cylindrical half 124 and second end 124b of second cylindrical half 124. A second impacting face 127 is defined at the junction of second end 124b of second cylindrical half 124 and first end 122a of first cylindrical half 122.

|0039] Hammer 120 is disposed in mechanical cooperation with hammer drive shaft

"D" (FIG. 6) and includes a bore 129 for reception of hammer drive shaft "D." Alternatively, hammer drive shaft "D" may be formed integrally with hammer 120.

[0040] As noted herein above, anvil 1 10 is provided with receptacle 1 12 for engaging head 12 of surgical fastener 10 (FIG. 2). While anvil 1 10 is illustrated with a hexagonal receptacle 1 12, when used with other types of surgical fasteners, receptacle 1 12 may be configured and dimensioned to engage fasteners having slotted heads, star drives, etc.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 4, anvil 1 10 defines a bore 1 12b for engagement with hammer 120. The bore 112b is defined on the opposing side of a support shaft wall 1 11 defined within the anvil 1 10. The bore 1 12b is disposed in opposed relation to the receptacle 1 12a, each being on opposite sides of the support shaft wall 1 1 1. Bore 1 12b defines a first section 1 14 and a second section 1 16. First section 114 is configured and dimensioned to accommodate first arcuate portion 121 of hammer 120 and second section 116 is configured and dimensioned to accommodate second arcuate portion 123 of hammer 120. First section 1 14 includes a first end 1 14a and a second end 114b. Second section 1 16 includes a first end 1 16a and a second end 1 16b. A first impacted face 1 17 is defined between first end 1 14a of first section 1 14 and second end 1 16b of second section 1 16. Likewise, a second impacted face 119 is defined between first end 1 16a of second section 1 16 and second end 1 14b of first section 1 14. First and second impacted faces 1 17 and 1 19 are oriented within bore 1 12b in a position to be engaged by first and second impacting faces 125 and 127 of hammer 120.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 7, anvil 1 10 is rotatably supported on a support shaft

"SS" via wall 1 1 1 (see FIG. 2). The support shaft "SS" is also disposed in mechanical cooperation with driving apparatus 20. A bore "'DB" extends through hammer drive shaft "D" for passage of support shaft "SS."

|0043] Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5A, 5B and 7, the use of impacting anvil assembly

100, in conjunction with driving apparatus 20, to drive surgical fastener 10 into tough tissue "⁴TT" will now be described. Initially, with regard to FIG. 7, support shaft "SS" is positioned through bore "DB" in hammer drive shaft "D" such that hammer 120 is positioned within bore 129 of anvil 1 10 and the anvil 1 10 is supported by the driving apparatus 20.

|0044] With reference to FIG. 2, head 12 of surgical fastener 10 is positioned within receptacle 1 12 of anvil 1 10. Tissue penetrating tip 18 is positioned against the tissue or prosthetic to be fastened (not shown). Once properly positioned, trigger 28 of driving apparatus 20 may be actuated to cause power source "PS" to cause hammer drive shaft "D" to rotationally and/or axially translate the hammer 120, which upon acceleration, impacts the anvil 1 10 and causes the surgical fastener 10 to rotationally and/or axially translate into tough tissue "TT."

[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the initial position (FIG. 5A) impacting faces 125 and 127 of hammer 120 are remote or spaced apart from impacted faces 1 14a and 1 19 of anvil 1 10. Upon actuation of driving apparatus 20, driveshaft "D" is energized causing hammer 120 to rapidly accelerate via rotation within bore 129. Impacting faces 125 and 127 of hammer 120 rapidly and suddenly engage impacted faces 1 14a and 1 19 of anvil 1 10, thereby rapidly rotating anvil 1 10, and, thus, surgical fastener 10 relative to the tissue or prosthetic (rotationally and/or axially translates with respect to the tissue or prosthetic). As such, surgical fastener 10 can be fastened with respect to tough tissue "TT" without excessive tissue bunching.

(0046) Depending upon the nature of the tissue, bone, prosthetic etc., driving apparatus 20 may be configured and dimensioned to automatically reverse rotational or axial translation directions, bringing impacting faces 125, 127, and 126 of hammer 120 momentarily out of engagement with impacted faces 1 14a and 1 19 of anvil 1 10 and surgical fastener 10. Thereafter, driving apparatus 20 can then be manually or automatically actuated to again rotationally accelerate hammer 120, to rapidly impact anvil 1 10 for rotational and/or axially translation of surgical fastener 10. As such, a series of continuous impacts may be provided to effect a series of continuous high torque rotations (and/or axial translations) of surgical fastener 10 to drive surgical fastener 10 through the tissue, bone, prosthetic etc.

[0047r Referring now to FIGS. 8- 1 OB, there is disclosed an embodiment of an impacting anvil assembly 200 for use with driving apparatus 20 to impact surgical fastener 10 into tissue, bone, prosthetics, etc. Impacting anvil assembly 200 generally includes an anvil 210 (FIG. 8), a hammer 220 (FIG. 9) and a hammer driveshaft "D" (which may be integrally formed therewith). Hammer 220 may move axially and rotationally into engagement with anvil 210 to effect rotation of anvil 210 and thus of surgical fastener 10.

[0048] With reference to FlG. 8, anvil 210 includes a receptacle (not shown) for reception of surgical fastener 10. Anvil 210 defines a bore 212 and includes a support shaft wall 211 disposed in mechanical cooperation with the support shaft "SS" that extends into bore 212. In this embodiment, hammer 220 does not enter bore 212 of anvil 210 during impact. Rather, first and second rim sections 214 and 216 are formed around bore 212. First rim section 214 includes a first planner portion 214a and a first angled portion 214b.

However, it is envisioned that first angle portion 214b may continue the entire length of first rim section 214 without a planner portion. Similarly, second rim section 216 includes a second planner portion 216a and a second angled portion 216b. However, it is similarly envisioned that second angle portion 216b may continue the entire length of second rim section 216 without a planner portion. First and second impacted faces 217, 219 are defined between first and second rim sections 214, 216 on opposing sides thereof. |00491 Referring now to FlG. 9, hammer 220 includes first and second distal faces

222 and 224 for engagement with first and second rim sections 214 and 216 of anvil 210. First distal face 222 includes a first planner section 222a and a first angled section 222b. However, it is envisioned that first angled section 222b may continue the entire length of first distal face 222 without a planner section. Second distal face 224 includes a second planner section 224a and a second angled section (not shown but substantially similar to first angled section 222b). However, it is envisioned that second angled section 126 may continue the entire length of second distal face 224 without a planner section. A first impacting face 226 and a second impacting face (not shown but substantially similar to first impacting face 226) are defined between first and second distal faces 222, 224 on opposing sides thereof.

[0050] With reference now to FIGS. 2, 1OA and 1 OB, the use of impacting anvil assembly 210 for rotating surgical fastener 10 into tough tissue, bone, prosthetics etc. will now be described. Initially with regard to FlG. 1OA, anvil 210 is rotatably mounted upon support shaft "SS" which is disposed in mechanical cooperation with driving apparatus 20 (FIG. 2). Support shaft "SS" extends through hammer driveshaft "D" such that hammer drive shaft "D" and thus hammer 220 are free to move axially along support shaft "SS." Support shaft "SS" may be disposed in mechanical cooperation with support shaft wall 21 1. In embodiments, support shaft "SS" may be integrally formed with the support shaft wall 21 1. |00511 Referring for the moment to FIG. 2, similar to the procedure described herein above, surgical fastener 10 is positioned within a receptacle in anvil 210 and tissue penetrating tip 18 of surgical fastener 10 is positioned against the tissue, bone, prosthetic etc. to be fastened. Thereafter, trigger 28 is actuated allowing power source "PS" to provide the energy to drive hammer driveshaft "D" axially.

|0052) Referring to FIGS. 1OA and B, hammer 220 rapidly accelerates in the direction of arrow A toward anvil 210. Upon engagement of the respective angled sections, for example upon engagement of first angled section 222b of hammer 220 with first angled portion 214b of anvil 210, anvil 210 is caused to rapidly accelerate into rotation about support shaft "SS." While not specifically shown, it should be understood that simultaneously second angled section 126 of hammer 220 engages second angled portion 216b on anvil 210 to balance the impacting in rotating forces of hammer 220 against anvil 210. The rapidly accelerating rotation of anvil 210 causes surgical fastener 10, positioned within the receptacle in anvil 210, to be rapidly rotated and axially driven into the tissue, etc. Similar to that method described hercinabove, this inertial resistance allows the tissue to provide sufficient counter torque to prevent the tissue from bunching or turning with a surgical fastener 10. |0053) During the rotation and axial translation, the respective faces, such as, for example, impacted face 219 of anvil 210 and impacting face 226 of hammer 220, act as stops to the respective motions between axially moving hammer 220 and rotating anvil 210.

Hammer 220 may then be retracted along support shaft "SS" and re-accelerated axially into engagement with anvil 210 to continue rotating surgical fastener 10 into tissue.

[0054] ^m this embodiment, in addition to the high torque rotational impact provided to surgical fastener 10, the axial motion of hammer 220 adds an additional axial impacting force to surgical fastener 10 to further assist in driving surgical fastener 10 into the subject tissue. Accordingly, hammer 220 may be moved axially in addition to being rotated.

(0055) Referring to FIGS. 1 1-14B, there is disclosed another embodiment of an impacting anvil assembly 300 for use with driving apparatus 20. Similar to those

embodiments described herein above, impacting anvil assembly 300 generally includes an anvil 310 and a hammer 320. Hammer 320 is axially movable within a bore 312 of anvil 310 so as to rotate anvil 310. While not specifically shown, anvil 310 includes a support shaft wall 31 1 and a distal receptacle, similar to that shown in FIG. 2, for reception of the head 12 of surgical fastener 10. With reference to FIGS. 1 1 and 12, anvil 310 includes a plurality of projections or detents 314a and 314b which may project radially inwardly into bore 312. In embodiments, projections 314a and 314b may project radially outwardly and/or axially therefrom. Projections 314a and 314b are configured and dimensioned to be engaged by hammer 320. In embodiments, projections 314a and 314b may be moving pawls, clutches, latches, pins, keys, etc.

(0056| Referring now to FIG. 13, hammer 320 is generally cylindrical and includes a first arcuate groove 322 and one or more second arcuate grooves (not shown but substantially identical to arcuate groove 322) disposed about hammer 320 and are configured and dimensioned to engage detents 314a and 314b of anvil 310. Hammer 320 further includes a chamfered leading edge 324 which facilitates entry of hammer 320 into bore 312 of anvil 310. A hammer drive shaft "D" extends through, is affixed to hammer 320, and includes a through bore 'OB."

|0057j With reference to FIGS. 2, 14A and 14B, the operation of impacting anvil 310 driver surgical fasteners such as, for example, surgical fastener 10 (FIG. 2) will now be described. Anvil 310 is rotatably supported upon an elongate support shaft "SS" which is connected to driving apparatus 20 (FIG. 2). Support shaft "SS" extends through hammer drivcshaft "D." As best shown in FIG. 14A, in an initial position, hammer 320 is in a remote or proximal position along support shaft 320 relative to anvil 310.

[0058] As best shown in FIG. 2, anvil 310 is manipulated such that head 12 of surgical fastener 10 is received within the receptacle in anvil 310. Surgical fastener 10 is then positioned against a tissue, bone or prosthetic to be fastened. Trigger 28 is actuated so as to move hammer driveshaft "D" axially in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 14A). With reference to FIG. 14B, as hammer 320 is driven axially in the direction of arrow B, detents 314a and 314b engage and ride within first arcuate groove 322 and second arcuate groove formed in hammer 320. For example, detent 314a enters and rides within groove 322 of hammer 320. As hammer 320 moves axially, detent 314a moves upwardly within groove 322 and follows the arc of groove 322 thereby causing anvil 310 to rotate in the direction of arrow C. Rapid rotation of anvil 310 is the result of the sudden impact of hammer 320 thereto. As such, the sudden, rapid rotation of surgical fastener 10 results because of the high torque transferred thereto. The subject tissue, bone or prosthetic provides sufficient counter torque to allow surgical fastener 10 to be rotated therein without bunching of the bone, prosthetic or tissue about surgical fastener 10.

|0059] In an alternative method of using impacting anvil assembly 3O0, in addition to moving hammer 320 axially relative to anvil 310, driving apparatus 20 may additionally provide a rotary motion to hammer 320 to further assist in rotating anvil 310. This axial force applied to surgical fastener 10 is in addition to the sudden rotational translation of fastener 10 setting up sufficient torque to overcome the counter torque of the tissue.

[0060] It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, axial and/or rotary motion may be provided to the hammer in each of the disclosed embodiments to further assist in driving the surgical fastener into the subject tissue, bone or prosthetic. Further, as noted here in above, the disclosed anvil is may be configured and dimensioned to engage various types of surgical fasteners such as, for example, screws, helical coil fasteners, etc. Additionally, the disclosed driving apparatus may be powered by electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other force generating mechanisms so as to drive and rotate the disclosed hammers relative to the disclosed anvils. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An impacting anvil assembly comprising:

an anvil configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener; and a hammer being at least one of rotationally or axially movable relative to the anvil such that rapid impact of the hammer with the anvil causes rotation of the anvil which is configured and dimensioned to rotate the surgical fastener.

2. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the anvil includes^" a bore configured and dimensioned to receive the hammer.

3. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the hammer includes at least one impacting surface and the anvil includes at least one impacted surface, wherein the at least one impacting surface and the at least one impacted surface are configured and dimensioned to engage each other.

4. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one impacted surface projects from the bore of the anvil.

5. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the hammer is formed with first and second offset cylindrical halves, the at least one impacting surface being located at a juncture between the first and second offset cylindrical halves.

6. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the bore of the anvil includes first and second sections, the at least one impacted surface being located at a juncture of the first and second sections.

7. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the anvil is rotatably supported on an elongate support shaft disposed in mechanical cooperation with a driving apparatus.

8. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the hammer is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a hammer drive shaft having a through bore, the hammer drive shaft being operably associated with the driving apparatus such that the hammer driveshaft is movable about the elongate support shaft.

9. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the anvil includes at least one projection projecting from the bore of the anvil, the at least one projection configured and dimensioned to be engaged by the hammer.

10. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the hammer includes at least one groove configured and dimensioned to receive the at least one projection of the anvil such that axial movement of the hammer relative to the anvil causes rotation of the anvil.

1 1. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the anvil includes a rim having first and second rim sections, at least one of the rim sections being at least partially angled.

12. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 1 1 , wherein the hammer includes at least one angled section engagable with the at least one rim section that is partially angled such that the anvil rotates relative to the hammer.

13. An impacting anvil assembly comprising:

an anvil configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener, the anvil including a bore and having at least one projecting impacted face; and

a hammer rotatable within the bore of the anvil, the hammer having at least one impacting face engagable with the at least one projecting impacted face of the anvil such that the surgical fastener rapidly rotates in response to rapid impacts between the at least one impacting fact and the at least one projecting impacted face.

14. The impacting anvil assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the anvil is rotatably supported on an elongate support shaft and the hammer includes a hammer driver shaft having a bore for reception of the elongate support shaft.

15. An impacting anvil assembly comprising:

an anvil configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical fastener, the anvil having a rim including first and second rim sections, at least one of the rim sections being at least partially angled; and

a hammer movable relative to the anvil, the hammer including at least one angled section engagable with the at least one rim section that is partially angled such that the anvil rotates relative to the hammer.

16. A method for mounting a surgical fastener, comprising the steps of:

providing an impacting anvil assembly including an anvil and a hammer;

translating the hammer via at least one of axially or rotationally;

causing the hammer to accelerate;

affixing a surgical fastener to the anvil; and

causing the hammer to impact the anvil such that sufficient energy is transferred from the hammer to the surgical fastener for mounting the surgical fastener to a patient.