A suture transport system is disclosure for placing a flexible member along a tunnel, the system including a means of transporting a flexible member along a tunnel from a first opening in the tunnel through to a second opening at an opposite end of the tunnel, such that the flexible member extends from both the first and second opening. The system also includes a means of capturing a portion of the flexible member at the second opening, to inhibit the flexible member from retracting into the tunnel second opening. The means of capturing includes an aperture for capturing the portion of the flexible member.

Techniques for automated rotation of a needle in a computer-assisted system include an end effector having a drive mechanism configured to be coupled to a curved needle and configured to rotationally actuate the curved needle along an arcuate path and a control unit coupled to the drive mechanism. The control unit is configured to, in response to receiving a first input, cause the drive mechanism to rotationally actuate the curved needle by a first preset rotation amount along the arcuate path, and, in response to receiving a second input, cause the drive mechanism to rotationally actuate the curved needle by a second preset rotation amount along the arcuate path.

Described are graft devices useful for treating surgical defects, delivery implements for delivery of the graft devices, combinations thereof, and methods for the preparation and use thereof. In certain aspects a tonsillectomy graft can include convexly curved outer edges, where the graft is sized and configured such that these outer edges reside proximate and along tonsillar pillars bounding a surgical tonsillectomy defect. The graft can include one or more pull tethers laced to the graft and functional to draw these outer edges toward one another when tensioned. The graft can be combined with a delivery implement having a delivery head and attached handle, where the delivery head is sized for receipt onto the tonsillectomy defect to deliver the graft. Additional product features, as well as associated methods, are also described.

A system including a bone punch tool and a needle guide. The bone punch tool can include a support arm having a support arm proximal portion and a support arm distal portion, a pivot arm having a pivot arm proximal portion and a pivot arm distal portion, and an arcuate punch configured to punch through bone. The pivot arm distal portion can be pivotably coupled to the support arm distal portion, such that the pivot arm proximal portion is configured to be moved away from the support arm proximal portion to extend the arcuate punch into a punch position to punch an arcuate hole through bone. The needle guide can be configured to guide a needle through the arcuate hole.

A passive retrieving interosseous suture passing instrument (10) having a guide handle (13) with a proximal end for grasping and a distal end for engagement with a bone (11) to which suture (22) is to be attached. The bone (11) is provided with a first tunnel (15), and a suture retrieving arm (12) carried at the distal end of the guide handle (13) is provided with a distal tip dimensioned to be received in the first tunnel (15).

An apparatus for affixing a first tissue to a second tissue and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The apparatus comprises an elongated needle; a handle disposed at a proximal end of the elongated needle; a superelastic anchor disposed within the elongated needle, the anchor comprises: at least one normally-expanded elongated hook that is biased to a contracted state to fit within the elongated needle; a securing element; and an advancement mechanism triggerable by the handle and being configured to: eject the anchor out of a distal end of said elongated needle to allow the elongated hook to extend distally outward from the longitudinal axis of the elongated needle, into or beyond a tissue, and following the ejection of the anchor, eject the securing element from the apparatus to prevent movement of the anchor in at least one direction.

The double “J” laparoscopic fascial closure device has a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivotally attached to the fixed jaw. An elongated hollow tube or cannula extends from the fixed jaw. The end of the elongated cannula distal from the jaws has two needles mounted thereon defining a double “J” configuration. A spring mechanism or cable guide is attached to the hollow tube, and a cable extends between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw. The other end of the cable extends through the elongated hollow tube, through the spacer arms, and back towards the needles at the ends of the needle mount arms. A suture thread is attached to both needles so that the thread bridges the gap between fascia on opposite sides of the laparoscopic port incision when the needles are draw back through the fascia towards the incision.

This invention relates to surgical suturing devices and methods by which suture may be passed through tissue during surgery, and, more particularly, to an improved blade of a suture passer needle. The suture passer needle includes a first side, a second side, and a blade disposed at an end of the needle. The blade has a first edge extending from the first side of the needle and a second edge extending from the second side of the needle, which converge to a tip of the blade. A notch is disposed in the blade and forms an opening in the first side of the blade. The blade also has one or more cutout portions distal and/or proximal the notch, which minimize the stress and strain placed on the blade. The suture passer needle can be incorporated into surgical suturing devices or suture passer devices to pass suture through a tissue body.

The present disclosure includes systems, methods, kits, and individual tools (e.g., trial sizers and delivery devices) for medical procedures involving a soft-tissue allograft for the correction of skeletal impairments (e.g., misalignments, arthritis, etc.).

A method for closing a puncture in tissue that includes advancing a guide member into proximity with the tissue, the guide member having a needle guide, positioning a distal end of the guide member with the needle guide toward the tissue to present an opening of the needle guide toward the tissue the needle guide cooperating with a suture securing device that is slidably coupled to the guide member and a suture attached to the suture securing device, deploying the suture securing device, the suture securing device comprising a body with an anchor point for the suture and features that allow the suture securing device to pierce the tissue and resist retraction through the tissue, and establishing tension in the suture to move the suture securing device toward another suture securing device to thereby close the puncture in the tissue.