Cutting eye needle comprising an elongated portion, a tip portion, and an eye portion comprising a frictionally engaged cutting edge, with adjacent surfaces (14) and (15) intersecting at edge (17) at an angle that creates a frictionally engaged cutting edge, which threads and sews like a conventional hand sewing needle, which is suitable for cutting one or more threads, in professions including the medical field and surgery, and in needlecraft operations particularly suited to quilting, where ends of thread are cut while located inside the cavities of a quilting project, while simultaneously reducing the probability of skin contact of an operator are disclosed.

A method and device for anchoring a length of self-retaining suture. The method of anchoring includes providing for an assembly having a length of self-retaining suture and a suture insertion device. The length of suture includes at least a portion of the length having a plurality of retainers thereon extending in a first direction. The insertion device has a length and a recess to receive a portion of the suture length. The method further includes placing a portion of the suture length in the recess and inserting the device into the body of a mammal until the recess reaches a predetermined location thereby forming an insertion pathway. The method further includes retrieving the insertion device from the body by moving the insertion device in a direction substantially opposed to the insertion pathway.

A novel posterolateral inter-muscular approach has been developed to access the cervical spine. The approach includes elevating the splenius capitis and trapezios muscles dorsally to create a window for deep spine access, wherein the window comprises: i) an anterior superior border of the trapezius muscle; ii) an anterior inferior border of the splenius capitis muscle, and iii) a posterior superior border of the levator scapulae muscle. Preferably, a device such as an implant or an instrument is then passed through the window to manipulate the spine.

A suture passer which is sized and shaped to be inserted through the femoral notch during a meniscal repair. The suture passer includes upper and lower jaws that may be straight or that may have an angled offset in relation to the common axis of the suture passer in order to gain an indirect access to meniscal tissue in a constricted space. The jaws of the suture passer may be angled, either to the left or to the right, up to 45 degrees from the central axis of the shaft. The suture passer is also able to grasp meniscal tissue prior to suture passing. A nitinol needle housed within one of the jaws can then be deployed to pass a preloaded suture through the tissue to be captured on the opposite side of the tissue.

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 method and device are provided for closing a port site incision after a minimally invasive surgical procedure is performed. The closure device includes an access device and a suture needle. A body of the access device has a proximal portion and a distal portion and defines a channel that extends between the proximal and distal portions. A head of the access device is supported on the proximal portion of the body. The suture needle includes a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a curved portion that extends from the distal portion of the shaft and includes a tip configured to penetrate tissue. The shaft extends through and is movable within a slot in the head to move the curved portion of the suture needle from an inactive position located within the channel to an active position positioned located externally of the channel.

An adjustable suture passer for use in arthroscopic surgery is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable suture passer comprises a head that describes a semicircular arc, an elongate body, a support element, and driving and control mechanisms. The head is adapted to accommodate a surgical needle and a guide wire. When the adjustable suture passer is activated, the needle is driven with sufficient force to penetrate bone. Use of the adjustable suture passer thus enables surgical attachment of soft tissue to bone without any necessity for a separate anchor.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for facilitating the implantation and secure positioning of implantable medical devices within a subcutaneous pocket formed by a surgeon within the patient. Such apparatus and method are configured to address the above-described challenges of containing implantable medical devices within such subcutaneous pockets, and the spring-like leads or catheters that may be attached to them, during implantation.