A soft anchor assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a sheath and a flexible strand at least partially surrounded by the sheath.

A surgical device, or a portion of a surgical device, that places purse string sutures in tissue within a body (e.g., intra-peritoneal space). The surgical device includes, or an end effector for a surgical device includes, a jaw assembly, staple cartridges, and a suture.

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.

A method of suturing a tissue opening can comprise placing a tissue-facing surface of a first pad, a second pad and a third pad over respective tissue areas adjacent to the tissue opening. The second pad can be positioned on a first side of the first pad and the third pad can be positioned on a second side of the first pad. The first and second pads can be coupled to a suture, the suture forming a stitch over the upper surface of each of the respective pads. The suture can be stitched through an area of tissue between the first pad and the second pad, between the second pad and the third pad, and between the third pad and the first pad. A first distal portion and a second distal portion of the suture can be coupled to the third pad for forming the purse-string suture.

Systems, devices, and methods for endoscopically retracting a target tissue. The device includes a first shaft and a second shaft slidably coupled thereto. An internal member extends in a transverse direction from the first shaft and is configured for advancement through a penetration in the target tissue to atraumatically engage a distal surface of the target tissue after being advanced therethrough. A pair of external members extend from the second shaft generally parallel to the transverse direction. The external members are spaced apart and are configured to atraumatically engage a proximal surface of the target tissue when the internal member is moved longitudinally relative to the external members. The internal member applies traction to the target tissue when retracted past the pair of external members, which apply counter-traction to the target tissue on opposing lateral sides of the internal member, to re-shape the target tissue and enable subsequent suture placement.

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.

An intra-cardiac introducer device includes a sheath having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall to define a sheath space, the sheath defining a distal end and a proximal end and arranged to penetrate cardiac tissue. A hub is connected to the proximal end of the sheath, an intracardiac stabilization balloon is coupled to the distal end of the sheath, and an external stabilization disc is slidingly positioned along the sheath. The cardiac tissue is sandwiched between the intracardiac stabilization balloon and the external stabilization disc to secure the position of the sheath in the cardiac tissue.

A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion, a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a needle assembly. Each jaw member includes a plurality of undulations and a needle channel. Each undulation includes a peak, a valley and a connecting portion interconnecting one peak with one valley. Each needle channel extends through each undulation of the respective jaw member and is parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion. The needle assembly includes a first needle and a second needle. Each of the first needle and the second needle includes a suture catch configured to releasably engage a portion of a suture. Each needle is movable from a first position where a distal end of the needle is positioned proximally of the respective jaw member, to a second position where the distal end of the needle is positioned distally of the respective jaw member.