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.

Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft for a ligament reconstruction procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a graft preparation system having a holder and a delivery suture assembly removably coupled thereto. The delivery suture assembly can include a spine coupled with an anchor suture configured to form a self-tightening knot used to position the assembly around a graft and a plurality of suture windings configured to be affixed to the graft when the assembly is deployed. The assembly is delivered to the graft using the holder and the sutures can be affixed to the graft without penetrating therethrough. The spine helps to evenly distribute the load among the windings compressing the graft which are thus are capable of withstanding increased loads. Thus, an improved, simplified, and time- and labor-saving approach to preparing ligament grafts is provided.

A tissue repair apparatus includes a housing, a rotatable shaft at least partially disposed within the housing, and first and second curved needles coupled to the shaft. The housing defines a gap between a first edge of the housing and a second edge of the housing, the gap adapted to receive tissue. The first and second needles curved needles being articulable within the housing from a delivery position, at which the first and second needles are spaced from the gap, to a deployed position, at which the first and second needles extend through the gap. Actuation of the shaft simultaneously articulates the first and second needles and the first needle enters the gap before the second needle enters the gap.

A tissue repair apparatus includes a housing, a rotatable shaft at least partially disposed within the housing, and first and second curved needles coupled to the shaft. The housing defines a gap between a first edge of the housing and a second edge of the housing, the gap adapted to receive tissue. The first and second needles curved needles being articulable within the housing from a delivery position, at which the first and second needles are spaced from the gap, to a deployed position, at which the first and second needles extend through the gap. Actuation of the shaft simultaneously articulates the first and second needles and the first needle enters the gap before the second needle enters the gap.

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 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 used to repair ruptured tendons are described, particularly a tendon grasping device and devices for the application thereof and to the uses if these devices; the tendon grasping device is made of a suitable for surgery bio-compatible material, a series of curved elements connected sequentially to form a hollow deformable structure; in use each curved element surrounds the tendon and the structure deforms between a radially extended condition and a radially retracted condition, in which each curved element firmly surrounds the tendon by applying pressure around the tendon without penetrating it.

Methods and devices for the repair of a ruptured ligament using a scaffold device are provided. Aspects of the invention may include a scaffold attached by a suture to an anchor. In aspects of the invention, the anchor may be secured to a bone near or at the repair site.

The present invention relates to a sutureless method of repairing soft tissue defects in soft tissue including ligaments such as anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs). In particular, the present invention relates a sutureless method of repairing soft tissue defect comprising: (i) providing a collagen-containing patch adapted to enclose at least a portion of said soft tissue defect; (ii) contacting said soft tissue defect and/or collagen-containing patch with a sensitizer; (Hi) enclosing said soft tissue defect in said collagen-containing patch to produce a bioactive chamber; and (iv) adhering said collagen-containing patch to said soft tissue defect without sutures.

The disclosed composite scaffold provides a highly porous and flexible structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement of the repair or reconstruction-first via scaffold mechanical properties, and subsequently, through newly regenerated functional tissue as the scaffold is resorbed.

The present invention describes a surgical stapler, a surgical staple arrangement and a method for approximate of muscular or aponeurotic structures. More precisely, the surgical staple comprises stapling structures associated to an alignment structure, in one of its embodiments the stapling structures holds at least a staple arrangement, approximating it rectilinearly clamping the staple arrangement, the surgical staple arrangement comprises a male and a female portion comprising a plurality of clamping structures that associate to each other and the method discloses steps for approximating muscular or aponeurotic structures and keep them together by the usage of and staple arrangement. The present invention is situated in the field of medical science, medical device and surgical stapler.