A system for passing suture through biological tissue using a cannula, introducer or other minimally invasive means, to approximate, ligate, fixate and/or close biological tissue. The system includes a hand grip in operative communication with an elongated tubular member having a jaw mechanism disposed on the tubular member distal end. The elongated tubular member housing a deformable tubular needle therein having a curvilinear portion and an internal lumen.

A suturing device includes a shuttle for holding a suture, a shuttle transmitter and a shuttle receiver. The shuttle transmitter includes a shuttle holder for holding the shuttle and a shuttle releaser displaceable relative to the shuttle holder for releasing the shuttle from the shuttle holder. The shuttle holder advances through a material at a first location while holding the shuttle until the shuttle engages the shuttle receiver. The shuttle releaser then releases the shuttle from the shuttle holder for withdrawal of the shuttle transmitter through the material, leaving the shuttle engaged with the shuttle receiver. The shuttle transmitter the penetrates the material at a second location opposite the shuttle receiver and retrieves the shuttle, holding it while withdrawing through the material at the second location. This sequence can be repeated to form a wide range of multi-stitch suture patterns for vascular closure and a wide range of other applications.

Surgical articles, implants and components suitable creating composite slings are described. Novel procedures for assembling and utilizing composite slings are also detailed.

A suture thread is used to perform suturing without tying part of or the whole of knots that are supposed to be tied during suturing. A suture thread support body prevents an end of the suture thread from being pulled into a suturing site. A needle accommodation body has a shape of a tube having a through-hole through both ends. The suture thread has the suture thread support body and the needle accommodation body.

In one embodiment, a method of repairing a heart valve accesses an interior of a patient's beating heart minimally invasively and inserts one or more sutures into each of a plurality of heart valve leaflets with a suturing instrument. The suture ends of the sutures are divided into suture pairs, with each pair including one suture end from a suture inserted into a first valve leaflet and one suture end from a suture inserted into a second valve leaflet. One or more tourniquet tubes is advanced over the suture pairs to the leaflets to draw the sutures together to coapt the leaflets and then the sutures are secured in that position.

A method includes engaging a clamp over a length of tissue to be sutured. A helical needle is advanced along a length of the clamp such that the helical needle passes through the tissue to be sutured. A leading end of a suturing thread is attached at a tip of the helical needle. The leading end of the suturing thread is captured. The helical needle is retracted back through the tissue so as to leave the thread in place. The clamp is disengaged from the tissue. A device for automatic suturing includes a clamp configured to be positioned over a length of tissues to be sutured. A helical needle is configured to be advanced and retracted along a length of the clamp. The needle has a tip. A suturing thread having a leading end is attached to the tip of the helical needle.

A surgical instrument comprising a shiftable transmission is disclosed. The transmission comprises a mechanism for assuring that the transmission is in one of a plurality of predefined configurations.

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

A crimping device for securing a suture to a double-pointed medical suture needle includes a lower block and an upper block that can be pressed against each other to secure the suture to the double-pointed medical suture needle. Each of the lower block and upper block have a first groove configured to accommodate the suture; and a second groove configured to accommodate the double-pointed medical suture needle, the second groove extending in a second groove extension substantially perpendicular to a first groove extension of the first groove, wherein the second groove comprises a protrusion at an intercept of the first groove and second groove. The disclosure further relates to a method of securing at least one suture to at least one double-pointed medical suture needle.

A system and method for completing one or more stitches without withdrawal and reloading of an inserter. A suture passer includes a distal end having a body with a gripping portion and a suture holding portion. The gripping portion and the suture holding portion are spaced, defining a recess in the body there between. A tube of the gripping portion extends toward the suture holding portion and maintains a needle therein. The needle is slidable within the tube between a retracted position and an extended position. The needle has a notch at its distal end for catching and securing a limb of suture. In the retracted position, the distal end of the needle is within the tube of the gripping portion and in the extended position, the distal end of the needle extends into the suture holding portion.