A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.

A laparoscopic device (10) comprising a handle assembly (30) by which the user may hold the laparoscopic device (30); and a tool gripping assembly (60) which holds a tool member (20) is disclosed. The tool gripping assembly (60) comprises a longitudinally extending rod (70) having a longitudinal axis A, a distal end (71) and a proximal end (72) The proximal end (72) is configured to be attached to the handle assembly (30), said distal end (71) is provided with a holding member (73) capable of holding a tool member (20). The tool gripping assembly (60) further comprises a first sleeve (80) partially surrounding and being longitudinally and independently displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis A along an outer surface of said longitudinally extending rod (70), and a second sleeve (90) partially surrounding and being longitudinally and independently displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis A along an outer surface of said first sleeve (80). The first and second sleeves (80, 90) are longitudinally displaceable in relation to each other and said longitudinally extending rod (70), and are configured to clamp said tool member (20) to said holding member (73) in a variable angle in relation to said longitudinal axis A, wherein said variable angle depends on the relative positions of the first and second sleeves (80, 90) to the longitudinally extending rod (70).

A sewing needle having a needle tip configured to pass through a sewing material and a first needle portion that follows the needle tip. A second needle portion is removably connected to the first needle portion and includes an end that is inserted into an elongate hollow receiver located on the first needle portion. The second needle portion follows the needle tip through said sewing material substantially simultaneously with the first needle portion. A first thread connection formed on the first needle portion is configured to carry a first portion of said thread through the sewing material and a second thread connection formed on the second needle portion is configured to carry a second portion of said thread through the sewing material. After passing through the sewing material, the first and second needle portions are separated, brought around outside edges of the sewing material and reconnected for subsequent stitching.

A device for suturing an anatomic valve can comprise an elongate body, a suture catch mechanism and a suture clasp arm. The suture catch mechanism can be operatively coupled to the elongate body for movement between a retracted position and an advanced position. The suture clasp arm can be attached to the elongate body for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The suture clasp arm can comprise a suture clasp configured to releasably retain a suture portion. In some embodiments, the suture clasp is positioned on the suture clasp arm such that the suture catch mechanism retrieves the suture portion from the suture clasp arm while the arm is at least partially retracted. In some embodiments, the suture clasp arm can be closed about a tissue portion without damaging the tissue portion.

A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.

A suturing kit includes a needle, a suture, a suturing device, a surgical patch and a sealed package. The suture attaches to the needle. The suturing device includes a portion configured to be inserted into a patient during a surgical procedure, a needle holder configured to receive the needle in a retracted position and at least one actuator configured to drive the needle in an advance direction toward a released condition. The surgical patch includes an opening large enough to receive either at least a portion of the needle holder adjacent a distal tip of the needle holder or the needle. The sealed package contains the needle, the suture, the suturing device and the surgical patch.

Methods and apparatuses for repairing a tear in soft tissue are disclosed. A method according to the principles of the present disclosure includes connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor and placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue. The method further includes inserting a first suture through the intermediate member and the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the soft tissue and fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

A puncture apparatus is disclosed, which can include a first puncture needle having a first needle tip and configured to puncture a living body tissue, a shaft interlocked to the first puncture needle, a second puncture needle having a second needle tip and configured to puncture a living body tissue, the second needle tip being oriented in a direction different from a direction in which the first needle tip is oriented, the second puncture needle being disposed so as to be movable relative to the first puncture needle in a proximal direction of the first puncture needle, and a moving section moving the second puncture needle relative to the first puncture needle in the proximal direction of the first puncture needle.

An embodiment includes a chordal replacement system comprising: a pledget coupled to a first suture length and at least one of a first needle and a first ferrule; a second suture length coupled to the pledget and at least a second needle; and a third suture length coupled to the pledget and at least a third needle; wherein the second and third suture lengths are not monolithic with each other and do not constitute a single suture. Other embodiments are described herein.

Methods and apparatuses for repairing a tear in soft tissue are disclosed. A method according to the principles of the present disclosure includes connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor and placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue. The method further includes inserting a first suture through the intermediate member and the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the soft tissue and fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.