A closure device for closing an opening in tissue that includes a needle actuation handle that cooperates with a housing. A hollow needle is selectively movable by the needle actuation handle, the needle including a slot extending proximally from a distal end of the needle. A suture anchor is positioned within and selectively releasable from the slot and coupled to a suture. A portion of the suture anchor extends proximally along an outer surface of the needle as the needle is advanced through tissue adjacent the opening.

A suturing device for minimally invasive surgery is disclosed. The suturing device has a head defining one or more ferrule holders and a tissue bite area. The device also has a first needle comprising a flywheel portion and one or more curved arms extending from the flywheel portion, each of the one or more curved arms comprising a ferrule engaging tip, wherein the first needle is pivotably coupled to the head. The suturing device further has a first actuator coupled to the first needle and configured to rotate it from a retracted position, where the ferrule engaging tip of each of the one or more curved arms starts away from the one or more ferrule holders, through the tissue bite area, and to an engaged position where the ferrule engaging tip of each of the one or more curved arms is operationally aligned with the one or more ferrule holders.

Provided herein is an endoscopic suturing system configured for attachment to, and use with, an endoscope.

A suturing device for minimally invasive surgery is disclosed. The suturing device has a head defining one or more ferrule holders and a tissue bite area. The device also has a first needle comprising a flywheel portion and one or more curved arms extending from the flywheel portion, each of the one or more curved arms comprising a ferrule engaging tip, wherein the first needle is pivotably coupled to the head. The suturing device further has a first actuator coupled to the first needle and configured to rotate it from a retracted position, where the ferrule engaging tip of each of the one or more curved arms starts away from the one or more ferrule holders, through the tissue bite area, and to an engaged position where the ferrule engaging tip of each of the one or more curved arms is operationally aligned with the one or more ferrule holders.

A suture grasper for retrieving a suture from an internal surgical site includes an inner shaft defining a tissue-penetrating tip, an intermediate shaft disposed about the inner shaft, and an outer shaft disposed about the intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft defines a plurality of spring fingers movable between a spread position, wherein the spring fingers extend radially outwardly from the inner shaft, and a compressed position, wherein the spring fingers are approximated about the inner shaft. The outer shaft is selectively translatable relative to the inner shaft and the intermediate shaft for moving the spring fingers between the spread position and the compressed position.

A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

Disclosed is a medical thread insertion instrument including: a medical thread having an outer surface thereof on which barbs are formed; a needle part having a cavity therein so that the medical thread is able to be inserted, the needle part including a needle having a predetermined length (L1); and a tube part having a cavity therein so that the needle is able to be inserted, the tube part being inserted into an inner side of the skin and including a tube having a length (L2) shorter than the length (L1) of the needle.

A machine for winding sutures into a suture tray package comprises a base platform, a plurality of package nests, a first workstation for placing an empty tray onto one of the package nests, a further workstation for feeding a needle with an attached suture in the tray and parking said needle in the tray, a winding station for winding the suture into a winding channel of the tray, a lid placement station for placing a lid onto one of the package nests, a lid attachment station for attaching the lid to the tray, and an offloading station for removing said trays from the package nests. The further workstation comprises two tweezer grippers, at least one of said tweezer grippers having a V- or U-shaped notch, said V- or U-shaped notch being located at the inside of the notched tweezer gripper facing the second tweezer gripper.

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft and an end effector is disclosed. The end effector is releasably attachable to the shaft by a lock biased into a locked condition to hold the end effector to the shaft.

A needle and suture assembly includes a needle made of a superelastic alloy, such as Nitinol, including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a sharpened tip, a suture having a free end juxtaposed with the proximal end of the elongated body of the needle, and a connector disposed between the needle and the suture. The connector includes a first end attached to the proximal end of the elongated body of the needle and a second end attached to the free end of the suture. The connector is made of a material, such as stainless steel, having less elasticity and greater plasticity than the superelastic alloy of the needle.