There is disclosed a medical probe for traversing a tract in the body of a human or animal. One medical probe is disclosed which comprises an elongate elastically deformable member comprising a helically wound element, and a sheath having an inner surface which contacts an outer surface of the elastically deformable member. The probe is elastically deformable, for traversing the tract, by virtue of the elastically deformable member. The probe may include a treatment element, which can be used to perform a procedure in the body of a patient. An assembly comprising a probe and a treatment element is also disclosed. The medical probe has a particular use in the treatment of a fistula, in which the probe takes the form of a fistula probe adapted to traverse a fistula tract.

A system (10) including an helicoidal member (16); an elongated guide (26) positionable at least partially through the helicoidal member (16) along the longitudinal axis of helicoidal member (16), the guide (26) defining a longitudinally extending peripheral surface cooled portion (32); a cooling subsystem (33) for cooling the peripheral surface cooled portion (32); and a driver (34) for mounting the helicoidal member (16) thereto and rotating the helicoidal member (16) along the helicoidal member longitudinal axis while allowing the helicoidal member (16) to advance along the guide (26) in a distally oriented direction.

A system using a guide to assist in insertion of a helicoidal member in a target biological tissue. The system adheres to tissues using suction to allow insertion of the helicoidal member.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems, apparatus, device and methods for sealing a puncture in a tissue wall. According to one aspect, the system includes at least one supporting element for insertion into or placement on at least a portion of a tissue wall proximate a puncture to prevent expansion of the puncture; and a closing element adapted for at least partial insertion into the tissue wall and shaped to compress at least a portion of a tissue wall in an inward direction to close the tissue puncture when inserted at least partially into the tissue wall.

An annuloplasty stitching device (1) is disclosed for stitching at a stitch site in a patient. The stitching device comprises a support structure (2) comprising, an elongate center support (21) extending along an axial direction (27) between a proximal end and a distal end, a stitching arrangement (3) comprising, at least one elongate linkage section (31) being movably attached at a support end (25) of the linkage section to the center support, and at least one stitching member (32) arranged at a stitch end (26) of the linkage section and being movable along said axial direction by a pivoting action of the linkage section.

Embodiments of systems and methods for fixing soft tissue are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, soft tissue may be fixed to an attachment surface (such as bone, other soft tissue, other implants, or allograft or xenograft materials) by providing a helical suture in the soft tissue, wherein the soft tissue has a longitudinal axis along which the soft tissue undergoes tension under normal physiological conditions, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the helical suture in the soft tissue is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the soft tissue; and securing the helical suture to an attachment surface.

A suturing device of the present invention is in the form a compact, light-weight handheld device that includes a needle and suture assembly, a mechanism for gripping and releasing the needle/suture (a needle transfer mechanism or needle shuttle mechanism), safely capturing the needle/suture upon exit from the patient's tissue, and returning the needle to a position such that the process of delivering additional sutures to the patient can be repeated. A safety shield mechanism ensures the user is protected from the needle at all times. The device of the present invention accommodates the right or left-handed user, rests comfortably in the user's hand, allows sufficient visualization of the procedure site, and permits the user to either control penetration depth of the needle or default to a device-determined depth. The present device permits the user to utilize a wrist-rotation (pivoting) suture delivery technique.

An apparatus for loading suture needles into a surgical instrument comprises a body, a first movable member, an engagement feature, and a needle. The body has a channel configured to receive a surgical instrument. The engagement feature is configured to open a cover of a surgical instrument upon insertion of a surgical instrument into the channel of the body. The first movable member is configured to deliver the suture needle to a surgical instrument after a surgical instrument has been inserted into the channel and the cover has been opened. The apparatus may further comprise a second movable member configured to facilitate delivery of the needle to a surgical instrument in conjunction with the first movable member.

A hand-held, surgical suturing device that can be operated and manipulated with one hand. The device has a suture spool that can be locked The device can rotate in either direction. It is configured to accept at least two different types of needles, a single hook needle and a corkscrew needle useful in different suturing applications. These needles can be supplied in different sizes and shapes. The needle, suture spool and needle carrier are typically supplied in sterile packages and are disposable. A first embodiment has a triangular-shaped squeeze handle that, when squeezed, causes the needle to rotate. A second embodiment has a cylindrical handle for manual stitching where the needle can be released to freely rotate by pressing a control button. In either embodiment, the suture spool can be locked or allowed to rotate freely by activating a releasing rod.

A suturing end effector includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a helical needle. The first and second jaw members are moveable relative to one another between open and closed configurations. Each of the first and second jaw members defines a first row of wells that define a helical path when the first and second jaw members are in the closed configuration. The helical needle is rotatable through the helical path between retracted and extended positions. The helical needle is configured to draw a suture through tissue between the first and second jaw members when the helical needle is rotatably advanced through the helical path and configured to be independently moveable relative to the suture when retracted from the advanced position to the retracted position.