Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing soft tissue adjacent a repair site. In one embodiment, a repair device is delivered with a delivery device system configured to move a cartridge with the repair device disposed therein toward an anvil with soft tissue positioned thereon. The delivery device linearly moves the cartridge toward the anvil with a worm drive positioned within a housing by rotating a thumb wheel disposed around the worm drive. Such linear movement is provided with a finger element extending from the worm drive that is configured to cooperate with an internal surface of the thumb wheel. With this arrangement, upon rotating the thumb wheel, the worm drive rotates with the finger element engaged with the internal surface of the thumb wheel to linearly move the cartridge toward the anvil.

A tendo calcaneus suturing instrument, comprising: a first support and a second support that are of a U-shaped structure, a distance adjustment device, a first guide sleeve, a second guide sleeve, a first positioning tube, a second positioning tube and a tendo sheath cutter. An outer arm and an inner arm of the first support, and an outer arm and an inner arm of the second support are respectively provided with a first positioning hole, a first guide hole, a second positioning hole and a second guide hole; and the first guide sleeve/the second guide sleeve is fixed by means of the first positioning hole/the second positioning hole and is matched with the first guide hole/the second guide hole. The first positioning tube/the second positioning tube provided with a through hole is arranged in the first guide sleeve/the second positioning sleeve or the tendo sheath cutter is arranged in the first guide sleeve and/or the second guide sleeve in a matching manner. The tendo calcaneus suturing instrument can simplify the surgical procedure, improve the surgical effect and relieve pains of a patient.

An apparatus configured for coupling two portions of tissue of a subject, such as two portions of a transected tendon. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a first and second helical element and a locking element. Each helical element is configured to be coupled to a portion of tissue, and the locking element is configured to couple the first helical element to the second helical element such that the helical elements are collinear.

Devices, systems and/or methods for fixating soft tissue at a soft tissue site are provided. The system includes a base member with multiple passer devices that carry a first suture therewith. The passer devices and first suture are passed through soft tissue to form loops adjacent at least a portion of the passer devices along one side of the soft tissue. A second suture is threaded through each of the loops and the passer devices are removed from the soft tissue. In this manner, first and second sutures may be coupled to the soft tissue.

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

A device has been developed to augment the rotator cuff tendon tissue as it proceeds in healing. The device has two purposes: to provide initial stability to the rotator cuff repair site to allow early mobilization of the upper extremity of the patient, and to allow for reinforcement of rotator cuff tendon repairs to increase the likelihood of successful rotator cuff tendon repairs. The device consists of an inter-connected, open pore structure that enables even and random distribution and in-growth of tendon cells. The braided structure allows for distribution of mechanical forces over a larger area of tissue at the fixation point(s).

The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.

Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing soft tissue, such as, a lacerated tendon. A repair device includes a frame having a tubular structure with a longitudinal length and struts at least partially defining the tubular structure. The frame includes a first portion and a second portion with an intermediate portion therebetween, each extending along the longitudinal length. The intermediate portion is configured to substantially maintain a fixed position and is configured to be positioned over first and second ends of the lacerated tendon to substantially maintain the first end abutted against the second end. The first portion and the second portion of the frame are configured to be positioned over separate portions of the tendon and configured to move and elongate along a length of the respective first portion and second portion of the frame as the portions of the tendon elongate.

Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing a lacerated tendon or ligament adjacent a repair site. In one embodiment, a repair device includes an elongated flexible structure and multiple anchors, the multiple anchors pre-positioned with the elongated flexible structure. The repair device may be coupled to the tendon or ligament at the repair site with a delivery device. The repair device may be pre-positioned in a cartridge such that the cartridge is loaded into the delivery device. The lacerated tendon or ligament is positioned within a cradle portion of the delivery device such that the tendon is positioned between the cradle portion and the cartridge that holds the repair device. The delivery device may then be triggered to actuate and drive the repair device from the cartridge to couple to the lacerated tendon or ligament. In this manner, the repair device may be anchored to the lacerated tendon.