A device is provided to assist in closing an incision through body tissue that comprises a tubular body sized for introduction through the incision and carrying a plurality of stabilizer elements at the distal end thereof. The stabilizer elements are configured to be deployed within the body cavity to engage the lowermost tissue layer. In one method, the device is pulled with the stabilizer elements deployed to retract the body tissue away from adjacent body structure. In another method, a plurality of needle tips carrying sutures are guided through the body tissue to a retention device at the ends of the stabilizer elements. With the needle tips captured in the retention devices, the device is withdrawn from the incision so that the sutures form ligatures that can be tied off to close the incision.

A system for piercing through biological tissue and providing access to internal structures; particularly, intra-abdominal structures, and closing an opening in the tissue. The system includes a suture guide sub-system having a tissue positioning sub-system for engaging segments of tissue disposed proximate the tissue opening and a suture passer sub-system that slideably engages the suture guide sub-system. The suture passer sub-system includes suture deployment and capture means that is configured to removably secure a suture thereto and deliver the suture to the segments of tissue disposed proximate the tissue opening.

Forming a proximal anastomosis on an aortic wall includes method and instrumentation and apparatus for forming an aortic puncture and inserting into the vessel through the puncture a fluid-impervious sealing element with a protruding retainer. An anastomosis of a graft vessel over the puncture is partially completed with the retainer of the sealing element protruding through the partial anastomosis. The retainer facilitates removal of the sealing element from the partial anastomosis prior to completion of the procedure.

A suture delivery system is described. The system includes an anchor and a cooperating driver, the driver facilitating a delivery of the anchor into the abdominal cavity. The system allows for the deployment of a suture internally into an abdominal wall.

Disclosed are devices for cardioscopic and pericardioscopic access to the heart, including direct access to the left atrium. In certain embodiments, the device may comprise an atrial portal having a configuration such that the distal end of the atrial portal can access the atrium while the proximal end of the portal can extend to outside of the subject. The devices and methods may also include a pericardioscopic portal for emplacement of the atrial portal. Also, methods for using such atrial portals and pericardial portals to perform surgery on the heart, and in some cases to directly access the left atrium, and systems (e.g., kits) comprising these portals in combination with other therapeutic devices are disclosed.

Devices, instruments and tools for minimally invasive surgical procedures. Port devices and methods for hemostatically sealing and providing a port through a tissue wall that interfaces with a fluid containing chamber, by minimally invasive techniques. Assemblies, instruments and methods for minimally invasive access to and through a tissue wall that interfaces with a fluid containing chamber, and for visualizing same. Instruments, assemblies and methods for minimally invasive surgical procedures, including ablation.

A guide member is configured for guiding a suture passer through a cannula and tissue surrounding the cannula to facilitate closure of an opening in tissue. The guide member includes a guide housing and an elongated guide shaft. The guide housing is configured for releasably engaging the guide member with the cannula and defines an entry aperture. The elongated guide shaft extends distally from the guide housing and defines an annular exterior surface. An exit aperture is defined through the annular exterior surface. The guide member defines a lumen extending from the entry aperture, through the guide housing and the elongated guide shaft, to the exit aperture. The entry aperture, lumen, and exit aperture cooperating to define a passageway extending through the guide member.

A hemostatic device includes a band for wrapping around a puncture site of a wrist, a mechanism for securing the band to the wrist in a wrapped state, an inflatable portion connected to the band and inflated by being injected with gas, an injection part which is elastically transformable and is capable of injecting air into the inflatable portion, and a tube body that connects an inflatable space of the inflatable portion and a housing space of the injection part to each other, in which the tube body has a hole portion opening in the inflatable portion and a cover portion disposed on the tube body to cover the hole portion, and the cover portion has a communication portion that allows communication between the inflatable space and the housing space by air discharged from the hole portion when air is injected into the inflatable portion from the injection part.

A hemostatic device includes a band for wrapping around a puncture site of a wrist, a mechanism for securing the band to the wrist in a wrapped state, an inflatable portion connected to the band and inflated by being injected with air, a tube body that communicates between an inflatable space of the inflatable portion and an outside, and a cover portion that covers the tube body in the inflatable portion, in which the tube body has a hole portion that opens in the inflatable portion, the cover portion has a communication portion that is disposed to cover the hole portion and allows communication between the hole portion and the inflatable portion by being positioned to overlap the hole portion, and the tube body is movable relative to the cover portion so that a positional relation between the communication portion and the hole portion is controllable.

A biodegradable device for maintaining the alignment of the edges of a trocar defect, consisting of two bases coupled and offset by a connector. The first base to be positioned below the defect and a second base above. The first base has a threaded hole from its upper surface but not through the lower surface. The connector attached to the bases such that there is a hole aligned with the threaded hole in the first base allowing a device to mate with the threads in the first base. The second base has a hole aligned with the hole in the connector and wide enough to allow a device to mate with the threads in the first base. The device is arranged so the distance between the lower surface of the second base and upper surface of the first base holds the fascia around the trocar defect.