Various embodiments of a cartridge for loading a suture onto a suturing instrument are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cartridge is operable for loading a pre-tied knot formed from the suture onto the suturing instrument. The suturing instrument is typically of the type having a suture passing member defining a suture receiving passage therein. In some embodiments, the cartridge comprises a housing defining a chamber, and a partially pre-tied knot mounted about the housing or the chamber. The cartridge additionally provides a base coupled to the housing, the base defining a seat for releasably holding a portion of a suture to be aligned with, and transferred to, the suturing instrument. The portion of the suture may be held independently, or it may be coupled to a component such as a ferrule or shuttle.

An instrument for securing a knot disposed in surgical suture is provided. The instrument includes a side-loading channel disposed along the side of a knot pusher, the side-loading channel configured to receive the suture into the knot pusher. A method of operation is disclosed.

A cassette is disclosed for use in a prosthetic suturing device. The cassette has a base. The base has a pair of pivots, a pair of alignment tabs, and at least one retention latch. The cassette also has a cover coupled to the base. The cover has at least one retention latch. The cover also defines one or more ferrule holders. The cassette further has one or more needles guided by the base and the cover. A surgical suturing device is also disclosed for use with a cassette. The suturing device has a cassette receiver and one or more needle drivers, each needle driver having a needle receiver positioned within the cassette receiver.

Described herein are methods and apparatus for approximating targeted tissue using locking sutures. The locking sutures can be configured to receive suture ends that are interweaved through portions of the locking sutures. In a pre-deployment configuration, a locking suture can slide along suture tails and can be positioned at a target location within a target region. Once a desired position and/or tension is achieved, the locking suture can be transitioned to a post-deployment configuration where the locking suture constricts around the suture tails to inhibit relative movement between the suture tails and the locking suture.

An insertion instrument is configured to eject at least one anchor body into respective target locations, and subsequently apply a predetermined tensile force at least one actuation member of the at least one anchor member so as to actuate the at least one anchor body from a first configuration to a second expanded configuration. The insertion instrument can include a tension assembly that applies the predetermined tensile force to the at least one actuation member. The predetermined tensile force can be defined by a distance of travel, a predetermined failure force of a fuse, or a combination of distance of travel and a predetermined failure force of a fuse.

A knot delivery device for securing a suture comprises an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a pre-configured knot disposed at the distal end of the elongated body, a suture snare having a snare configured to capture suture material, wherein the snare extends through the pre-configured knot and a suture locker secured to one end of material forming the pre-configured knot, wherein tension applied to the suture locker tightens the pre-configured knot.

A medical securing device for securing an object with a securing member into a tissue comprises an elongated sheath with proximal and distal ends, and a securing member introduction device having proximal and distal ends. The securing member comprises first and second ends. The distal end of the securing member introduction device is configured to extend the second end of the securing member from the sheath and introduce it to or through the tissue via an introduction movement so to secure the portion of the securing member to the object and/or to the tissue. This is advantageously configured to happen without extending the securing member introduction device through the tissue whereupon no extra hole is made to the tissue by the securing member introduction device.

An anchor construct having an anchor having a length of suture material passing therethrough, the suture material having a loop strand terminating at a first end and a post strand terminating at a second end, a splice loop formed by first end, a sliding construct formed by the first end and the second end, wherein the sliding construct is configured to adjust the relative position of the splice loop and the anchor. The anchor construct can be deployed by passing the first end through a first body and through the splice, creating a locking loop of a first size around the first body, implanting the anchor into a bone hole, pulling the post strand to decrease the perimeter of the positioning loop to a second size smaller than the first size, and pulling the loop strand to decrease the perimeter of the locking loop to a smaller second size.

A method and apparatus for positioning a locator. The method includes inserting a tissue locator through an opening in a tissue wall, and advancing an engagement member to move a portion of the first arm from a first position to a second position that is separated from a longitudinal axis of the tissue locator by a greater distance than the first position.

A suture assembly, including a button having two apertures and a suture defining a lumen and forming a double loop, formed by a double trap formed in the suture, opposed to the button, and in which a first portion of the suture is threaded through the lumen of the double trap and a second portion of the suture is also threaded through the lumen of the double trap, so that two portions of suture are positioned together in the double trap. The first portion of the suture, after emerging from the double trap, is threaded through the lumen again, thereby forming a second trap, increasing resistance of the double loop to expansion, the double loop being threaded through the apertures of the button, the suture having two suture ends that are threaded through the button apertures and accessible on a side of the button opposed to the double loop.