A suture-based vessel closure device can perform the dilation of an arteriotomy puncture and does not require previous dilation of the arteriotomy puncture by a separate device or by a procedural sheath dilator. The suture-based vessel closure device can place one or more sutures across the vessel access site such that, when the suture ends are tied off after sheath removal, the stitch or stitches provide hemostasis to the access site.

An adjustable, knotless button/loop construct for fixation of ankle syndesmosis tibio-fibular diastasis and an associated method of ankle repair using the same. The knotless construct comprises a pair of buttons attached to a flexible, continuous, self-cinching, adjustable loop integrated with two splices that are interconnected. The knotless construct is passed through fibular and tibia tunnels and the buttons are secured on the cortical surfaces of tibia and fibula. One of the buttons (for example, an oblong button) is secured on the medial side of the tibia by passing the button and the flexible, adjustable loop though the fibular and tibia tunnels and then flipping and seating the button outside the tibia. The length of the flexible adjustable loop is adjusted so that the second button (for example, a round button) is appropriately secured on the lateral fibula.

The invention generally relates to devices and methods for suturing tissue. The invention provides methods and devices for suturing by pushing two ends of a suture through tissue from a proximal side of the tissue and fastening the two ends together on a distal side of the tissue through one operation of a trigger.

Surgical constructs and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a construct is formed from a suture filament and includes two terminal ends of filament and an intermediate portion disposed along at least a portion of a length extending between the terminal ends. The construct can have a first terminal end that is the first terminal end of the filament, and a second terminal end that includes a loop. The loop can be formed by disposing the second terminal end of the filament within a volume of a portion of the intermediate portion of the filament. In some disclosed methods, both terminal ends of the filament can be passed through tissue when performing soft tissue repairs. Various other embodiments of constructs and methods are provided, including constructs having two or more filaments associated with an anchor and methods of using such constructs.

Embodiments of a knot pusher and methods of use thereof are disclosed, that are usable for pushing various types of knots including sliding knots and overhand knots formed from a suture, two limbs of the suture extending from the knots, for example using a single device. The knot pusher comprises a distal head defining top and bottom walls terminating in a distal knot pushing surface. The distal head includes side grooves that are defined between the top and bottom walls. Each of these side grooves are operable to receive one of the two limbs of suture during advancement of the distal head to aid in pushing the overhand knot. The distal head additionally comprises a suture receiving element associated with the top wall for receiving one of the two suture limbs during advancement of the distal head to facilitate advancement of the sliding knot.

Assemblies for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a subject's body are provided. The assembly includes a frame having an adjustable flexible member construct thereon. The adjustable flexible member construct is disposed in the frame such that the adjustable flexible member and the frame encircle the fractured or weakened bone.

A tissue fixation system including a delivery tube and an elongated fastener with a loop at a proximal end and a distal end. A proximal end of an elongated curved needle is attached to the delivery tube. A distal end of the needle is configured to penetrate tissue. The needle includes an open channel sized to receive the elongated fastener with the loop located near the proximal end of the elongated curved needle and the distal end of the elongated fastener located near the distal end of the elongated curved needle. A capture needle is slidably positioned in the delivery tube to slide through the loop in the proximal end of the elongated fastener. The capture needle is configured to grasp the distal end of the elongated fastener and pull the distal end of the elongated fastener through the loop to cinch the elongated fastener.

An insertion instrument is configured to eject one or more of anchor bodies across an anatomical gap so as to approximate the gap. The insertion instrument can include a single cannula that retains the pair of anchor bodies in a stacked relationship, or a pair of adjacent cannulas that each retains respective anchor bodies. The insertion instrument can be actuated so as to eject the anchor bodies into respective target anatomical locations.

The present invention provides a suturing device to minimize interference and obstructions during intricate surgeries. The curled suture device is significantly shorter than traditional suturing kits by featuring a needle attached to a specially manufactured thread incorporating a stopping mechanism preceding an angular, semi-rigid portion of thread followed by a curled portion of thread arranged in a corkscrew configuration. The stopping mechanism halts the movement of the thread as the needle and thread intermediate the needle and stopping mechanism is pulled through the suture point, securing the remainder of the thread for access. The semi-rigid portion of thread is thereby utilized in conjunction with its curled portion of thread, allowing for the user's unabated access to the corkscrew configuration to form a ready-made knot, minimizing interference and obstruction during surgery. The thread may be manufactured to form an additional semi-rigid and curled portions of thread upon creation of a knot.

A tissue fixation apparatus can include a flexible construct and an elongated locking member. The flexible construct can include at least two adjustable loops and tensioning members. The two adjustable loops can be configured to pass through the first tissue, and to be spaced apart along an outer surface of the first tissue in a first direction. The tensioning members can extend from the two adjustable loops, and can be configured to reduce the two adjustable loops from a first size to a second size. The flexible construct can be attached to the second tissue by an anchor. The locking member can be configured to be received within the two adjustable loops at the first size, and to engage the two adjustable loops at the second size.