A suture clip is comprised of a length of suture material with a male clip on one side and a female clip on the other side. The male clip may contain ratchets that, when engaged with the female clip, hold it in place and allow the male clip to adjustably lit within the female clip or even through it to “tighten” the suture when the male and female clips are engaged. The suture clips are configured to be used in a suture clip applicator that contains paired and opposing needles configured to hold the male clip on one side and the female clip on the other side and to cause the engagement of male and female clips and form a continuous loop through the suture material to enable the closure of fascia or other body tissues.

An automatic suturing hook apparatus comprises a main body having a movement hole formed on one side surface thereof and having a first protrusion hole formed on the front end thereof; a needle part which is provided inside the main body and protrudes from the first protrusion hole; a slide body which slidably moves through the movement hole from one side surface of the main body to the front end or rear end of the main body and comes into close contact with the front end of the main body; a slide part which is provided inside the main body and slidably moves the needle part provided inside the main body to the outside of the main body; and a first trigger which is provided at the bottom of the rear end of the main body and operates the slide part which is provided inside the main body.

A suture delivery device includes a base portion and a deployment portion extending from the base portion. The base portion defines a longitudinal axis. The deployment portion includes a plurality of petals extending along the longitudinal axis parallel to one another when the deployment portion is in a delivery position and extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the deployment portion is in a deployed position

Methods and devices are disclosed for minimally invasive procedures in the heart. In one application, a catheter is advanced from the left atrium through the mitral valve and along the left ventricular outflow tract to orient and stabilize the catheter and enable a procedure such as a “bow tie” repair of the mitral valve. Right heart procedures are also disclosed.

An anastomosis device includes a housing that has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the housing supports a first suture deployment assembly and the second end portion of the housing supports a second suture deployment assembly. Each of the suture deployment assemblies includes a drive member and a plurality of sutures. Each of the plurality of sutures supports a tissue piercing member. The drive members are engaged with the tissue piercing members and are movable to eject the tissue piercing members and the sutures from the first and second suture deployment assemblies.

A catheter member for interacting with a circumferential tissue structure includes: an elongate primary catheter having at least one inner lumen and extending along a longitudinal axis; first and second elongate secondary catheters, each having an inner lumen, and each positionable in an inner lumen of the primary catheter to be moveable relatively thereto and exposable therefrom; and a first flexing mechanism to provide a distal end portion of the first and/or second secondary catheter with a tendency to assume a first secondary bent shape. The distal end portion of the first and/or second secondary catheters is provided so as to be able to be flexed by the first flexing mechanism to form an arm portion substantially transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the primary catheter so as to assume the first secondary bent shape when exposed from a distal end portion of the primary catheter.

Suturing devices and systems used to close openings into a biological structure. The suturing device can comprise an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, one or more arms, and one or more needles. One or more sheaths may be used with the device to maintain or substantially maintain haemostasis while the device is used and while a procedure is performed in the biological structure.

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for closing a patent foramen ovale. Some of the disclosed apparatuses include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, with first and second suture clasp arms adapted to hold end portions of a suture when in an extended position. A first suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a proximal-to-distal direction to engage the suture end held by the first suture clasp arm, and a second suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a distal-to-proximal direction to suture end held by the second suture clasp arm. The first suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum primum to deliver a suture thereto, and the second suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum secundum to deliver a suture thereto.

Systems and methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are described. A system can include a variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, including a suture having a first thickness dimension; an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the transition zones having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension.

A suturing system including an elongate distal member and an elongate proximal member proximal the elongate distal member, the elongate proximal member having a lumen. A needle deployment actuator extends to the elongate distal member and is configured to initiate proximal movement of a needle toward an opening of the elongate proximal member. A guide is disposed within the elongate proximal member, a perimeter of the guide forming a plurality of needle receiving gaps that, when viewed in cross-section, are circumferentially spaced about the deployment actuator with a portion of the guide disposed between adjacent needle receiving gaps extending outwardly towards a wall of the lumen of the elongate proximal member.