Importance

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Abstract

A surgical fastener system that utilizes a very intense electrical discharge in a captured fluid volume to cause fluid vaporization thereby to drive a fastener body distally from an open-ended channel in an introducer member. More in particular, the fastener system comprises proximal and distal fastener components that are carried in a channel in an introducer. The proximal fastener component is a fluid sealed in a volume proximal to the head of a fastener body. The distal component of the fastener system is the fastener body itself, which typically defines a head portion and extending leg portion. The system further provides a high voltage electrical source coupled to 1.sup.st and 2.sup.nd electrode terminations that are in substantial contact with the captured fluid volume. Upon actuation of a switch mechanism, an electrical discharge is induced between the 1.sup.st and 2.sup.nd electrodes which causes an intense thermal effect within the captured fluid which generates a vapor bubble therein. The explosive expansion pressures caused by such bubble formation thereby imparts driving forces against the fastener body to drive the fastener outwardly into or through the targeted structure. The driving force applied to the fastener head can be selected by controlling the power level of the electrical discharge.

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First Claim