The present invention relates to a suturing bead, a suturing needle, a side suction cap and to an endoscopic organ suturing implement using same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an endoscopic organ suturing implement comprising a suturing bead which can be naturally rested lying against the organ wall during discharge, a suturing needle by means of which it is possible to control discharge of the suturing bead, and a side suction cap constituted in such a way as to be able to prevent damage to other organs during surgery.

Described here are closure devices and methods for ligating tissue, such as the left atrial appendage. Generally, the closure devices include an elongate body, a snare loop assembly comprising a snare and a suture loop, and a shuttle connected to the snare and releasably coupled to the elongate body and retractable therein. In some variations, the shuttle may be configured to fit into the lumen. In other variations, a handle may be attached to the elongate body, and the handle may comprise a track and a snare control coupled to the track. The handle may be configured to release the shuttle from the elongate body and allow movement of the snare control along the track to retract the snare loop and the shuttle into a lumen of the elongate body.

Embodiments of a knot pusher and methods of use thereof are disclosed, that are usable for pushing a knot formed from a suture, two limbs of the suture extending from the knot. The knot pusher comprises a distal head defining top and bottom walls terminating in a distal knot pushing surface. The distal head includes at least two side grooves defined between the top and bottom walls that extend proximally from the knot pushing surface. Each of these side grooves is operable to receive one of the limbs of suture. The distal head additionally comprises at least one suture guide coupled to the top and bottom walls for guiding the one of the limbs of suture into one of the side grooves.

An anchor assembly can include at least one anchor member, such as a pair of anchor members that are configured to be implanted in a target anatomical location in a first configuration, and can subsequently be actuated to an expanded configuration that secures the anchor members in the target anatomy. The anchor assembly can further include a connector member configured as a stitch lock that attaches the pair of anchor members together across a gap so as to approximate the anatomical defect.

A suture implant for approximating tissue without tying knots includes a suture having a first end with a fixed knot, a second end, and a slip knot located between the first and second ends, which defines a large suture loop having a length. The slip knot defines a dynamic end of the large suture loop that is located opposite a closed end of the large suture loop. A tissue anchor is coupled with the first end of the suture. Pulling the second end of the large suture loop away from the slip knot slides the slip knot and the tissue anchor toward the closed end of the large suture loop and reduces the length of the large suture loop. The suture implant includes a needle having a leading end and a trailing end and a small suture loop secured to the trailing end of the needle that is coupled with the closed end of the large suture loop.

An arthroscopic meniscal tear repair device includes a catch needle and a transfer needle, which are pierced into a torn meniscus and advanced past the tear. Suture is transferred by a suture needle from the transfer needle through the meniscus and into the catch needle. The catch needle has an internal mechanism that retains the suture. The suture needle is then retracted back to its home position inside the transfer needle, leaving the free end of the suture across the meniscus and in the catch needle. The device is then retracted out of the meniscus, leaving behind a stitch across the meniscal tear inside the meniscus. A pre-tied knot of suture is then slid down the device and cinched up using a knot pusher having a dilation tip, thus completing the repair.

Apparatus for forming a knot, the apparatus having a first pathway for receiving a first element, and a second pathway for receiving a second element, the first pathway having a configuration which corresponds to the path to be followed by the first element and the second pathway having a configuration which corresponds to the path to be followed by the second element, respectively, in order to form a knot; a shuttle for moving the second element; and a mechanism for moving the shuttle through the second pathway, whereby, when the first element is received in the first pathway and the second element is connected to the shuttle, movement of the shuttle through the second pathway causes the second element to be moved through the second pathway so as to form a knot around the first element.

A suture construct includes, inter alia, a sheath and a flexible strand threaded through the sheath to configure the sheath in a circular or oblong shape. The suture construct may be utilized in various tissue reconstruction procedures. The suture construct can be connected to a second suture construct to form a surgical assembly.

Tissue repair systems which use knotless all-suture anchors and have the ability to lock multiple repair sutures within the anchor construct. The anchor construct includes a tension suture wrapped or looped upon itself to create an open eyelet, through which multiple repair sutures originating in soft tissue are passed. The location of the eyelet may be anywhere inside the all-suture anchor or adjacent to the exterior of the anchor body. Tensioning of the tension suture causes the eyelet to restrict movement of the repair sutures and secures them within or against the anchor body.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a device includes an anchor, a repair filament, and a connecting filament that is coupled to the repair filament, is in contact with the anchor's distal end, and is effective to connect the repair filament to the anchor such that the repair filament slides with respect to the anchor. The anchor can be rigid, and can include an axial bore extending therethrough. At least one of the repair filament and the connecting filament can extend through at least a portion of the axial bore, and the bore can be sized such that a portion of the filament extending therethrough barely fits to help maintain the connection between the anchor, repair filament, and connecting filament. Embodiments of the systems and devices disclosed can be used in a number of methods for repairing soft tissue.