A trocar wound closure system includes a suture passing needle and a guide for directing the needle through the wound site. A distal portion of the needle includes a capture rod with a slot. An obturator tube with a cutout section can be axially actuated to align the cutout section with the slot, and then moved out of alignment so as to capture the suture. The guide includes at least two tracks for directing the needle through the tissue track. A suture catcher is located adjacent to the exit of each track, and configured to be actuated from a radially extended configuration to a retracted configuration so as to capture the suture section inserted through each loop. Radially expandable arms at distal section are movable between an expanded configuration and a slender configuration.

One embodiment is directed to a system for closing a wound created at least partially across a tissue structure wall, comprising: a helical needle; a suture member coupled to the helical needle and configured to be pulled along a helical pattern with helical movement of the helical needle; an outer delivery member rotatably coupled to the helical needle; a drive shaft axially movably coupled to the outer delivery member; and a plurality of suture guide struts projecting distally from the outer delivery member; wherein upon helical insertion of the helical needle relative to the outer delivery member, the helical needle is advanced such that it becomes disposed around the guide struts, such that the guide struts prevent radial migration of the suture as it is helically wound into the tissue structure.

A therapeutic instrument for the ergonomic, effective and safe opening and closing of targeted remote tissue sites; includes a pistol grip style handle with a hand activated lever for needle deployment and, optionally, with features to control tissue cutting and guide wire installation; also incorporates a specialized elongated rigid or flexible instrument shaft, which enables vacuum assisted holding of tissue at a uniquely contoured distal tip, where placement of a suture in a purse string configures occurs along with, if desired, tissue cutting and guide wire passage.

Systems and methods for sealing an opening in a wall within the body of a patient are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system has an elongated body coupled to a vascular closure device and a resisting member, the elongated body having a high resistance portion and a low resistance portion and being constructed and arranged to interface with a resisting member to apply a conforming force to a vascular closure device. In some exemplary embodiments, the elongated body comprises a large diameter portion positioned in a proximal end region of the elongated body. Methods and other embodiments are disclosed.

A method and device are provided for closing a port site incision after a minimally invasive surgical procedure is performed. The closure device includes an access device and a suture needle. A body of the access device has a proximal portion and a distal portion and defines a channel that extends between the proximal and distal portions. A head of the access device is supported on the proximal portion of the body. The suture needle includes a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a curved portion that extends from the distal portion of the shaft and includes a tip configured to penetrate tissue. The shaft extends through and is movable within a slot in the head to move the curved portion of the suture needle from an inactive position located within the channel to an active position positioned located externally of the channel.

A handheld advancer is provided for advancing an elongate device through a pathway defined in an advancer body and include a rotatable manual control partially embedded in the body to receive a user-exerted manual control movement from a thumb of a single hand that can hold and control the advancer and advancement. The advancer can include a manual drive arranged to convert torque applied by the thumb for a rotation arc distance into a translation drive force applied for translating the elongate device an advancement distance scaled at force factor and distance factor. The distance factor can be one or greater than one and translate the elongate device an amplified advancement distance compared with manual input. The advancer can include a nip having a pair of rollers extending into the pathway providing constant control and amplified translation via concave compressible surfaces forming continuous contact regions with the elongate device.

A system for introducing a surgical instrument through a tissue lumen having: a surgical instrument; a sheath for preventing contamination of the tissue lumen; a dilator for dilating bodily tissue having an elongated body for positioning the dilator and a tapered section for facilitating dilation of the tissue lumen; and a cone having conical body that tapers from the proximal end to the distal end and facilitates insertion of the cone and the surgical instrument through the tissue lumen, an axial bore that extends longitudinally through the cone and receives an anvil retainer, a collar that engages the distal end of the surgical device and prevents lateral movement of the cone, grooves that engage the surface of the tapered section and reduce the friction between the cone and the tissue lumen, a securing device for securing the cone to the surgical instrument, and a retrieval device for retrieving the cone from a bodily cavity.

A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in a tissue. The apparatus includes an anchor, a sealing plug, a suture, a compaction member assembly, a spool assembly, and a release member. The suture is positioned between the sealing plug and the anchor. The compaction member assembly is structured and arranged to apply an compressive force to compact the sealing plug toward the anchor. The spool assembly includes a plurality of post members, and the suture is wound about the post members to define a suture cam path. Unspooling the suture along the suture cam path provides driving of the compaction member assembly. The release member is operable to move the post members to release the suture member from the spool assembly.

A device is provided to assist in closing an incision through body tissue that comprises a tubular body sized for introduction through the incision and carrying a plurality of stabilizer elements at the distal end thereof. The stabilizer elements are configured to be deployed within the body cavity to engage the lowermost tissue layer. In one method, the device is pulled with the stabilizer elements deployed to retract the body tissue away from adjacent body structure. In another method, a plurality of needle tips carrying sutures are guided through the body tissue to a retention device at the ends of the stabilizer elements. With the needle tips captured in the retention devices, the device is withdrawn from the incision so that the sutures form ligatures that can be tied off to close the incision.

Collapsible tube embodiments may be used to promote hemostasis at surgical sites or any other suitable location. In some cases, vascular closure device embodiments may include collapsible tube embodiments in order to promote hemostasis at a surgical site during a vascular closure procedure.