A method for providing a fractured bone with a bone cerclage according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes wrapping suture around bone a first time using a suture passer, wrapping the suture around bone a second time using a shuttling suture, and securing the suture to the bone.

A suturing apparatus comprises a pair of jaws. A bendable needle housed in one of the jaws is adapted to carry a suture. An optional suture receiver may be disposed adjacent to the opposite jaw. A transition block curves the needle and directs it in a direction generally unparallel to an axis of the carrying jaw. The needle may also be configured to retrieve a suture. A retaining mechanism holds a suture in place to be engaged by the needle. The jaw housing the needle may include a lateral opening through which the suture may be inserted. The needle may also include a lateral notch which may be aligned with lateral opening to receive the suture. An actuator coupled to the needle enables the user to move the needle proximally to align the notch with the lateral slot.

A device for the transosseous insertion of suture threads comprises: —a main body (1), equipped with a grip (2), supporting a protruding cannula (3) provided with an active end (30); —a flexible thread-like element (4) which is housed in a coaxially sliding manner inside the cannula (3) and is suitable, on command, for exiting from the active end (30) of the cannula (3). The thread-like element (4) is made of a super-elastic, shape-memory material and thus has the property of freely assuming, at least in an adequate temperature range for which its operative use is foreseen, a natural and predetermined curved form at least in a determined portion of the terminal part thereof. Means are provided for producing the coaxial movement of the thread-like element (4) in the two directions relative to the cannula (3).

Described are methods and apparatus for use in supporting tissue in a patient's body. In some embodiments, the patient's breast or another tissue is supported. One method involves introducing a superior soft tissue anchor into a patient, the anchor having an inferiorly facing total surface area; and introducing at least one inferior soft tissue anchor into the patient, such that the at least one inferior soft tissue anchor is suspended from the superior soft tissue anchor, the sum of all of the at least one inferior soft tissue anchors having a superiorly facing total surface area. The inferiorly facing total surface area of the superior anchor can be greater, such as at least two times greater than the superiorly facing total surface area of the at least one inferior anchor.

A device is provided to assist in closing an incision through body tissue that comprises a tubular body sized for introduction through the incision and carrying a plurality of stabilizer elements at the distal end thereof. The stabilizer elements are configured to be deployed within the body cavity to engage the lowermost tissue layer. In one method, the device is pulled with the stabilizer elements deployed to retract the body tissue away from adjacent body structure. In another method, a plurality of needle tips carrying sutures are guided through the body tissue to a retention device at the ends of the stabilizer elements. With the needle tips captured in the retention devices, the device is withdrawn from the incision so that the sutures form ligatures that can be tied off to close the incision.

Apparatus and methods for arthroscopic meniscal tear repair. An apparatus includes a rigid outer sheath, and a needle residing within the rigid outer sheath, the needle including a superelastic material having an angled tip portion and a lumen having a longitudinal slot, a distal end of the needle having a bend, a deflection angle of the bend dependent upon an extent to which the needle is advanced from the stiff outer sheath.

Strength of a front end part having a sharp point of a medical suture needle is maintained and resistance when piercing tissue is reduced. There is provided a medical suture needle having a triangular cross section made of austenitic stainless steel having a fibrously extending structure, having two first slanted surfaces (11) ground and sandwiching a ridge (20), and a bottom surface (13) sandwiched between the two first slanted surfaces and ground. The ridge is formed comprising a first cutting blade (1) that is formed by the two first slanted surfaces (11) intersecting, a ridge part (20) that is formed on a body part side of the first cutting blade without the first slanted surfaces (11) intersecting, and a second cutting blade (2) that is formed by two second slanted surfaces (12) ground, intersecting and sandwiching the first cutting blade (1) on a front end side of the first cutting blade (1). Length L2 of the first cutting blade is within a range of 3 to 20 times length L1 of the second cutting blade (2), and a front end (3) of the second cutting blade (2) is positioned deviating from the material center.

A method of sewing preserved animal tissue to a manmade work piece that forms a part of a prospective bioprosthetic heart valve. The method utilizes a needle having an attached suture length and also having a relative object visibility of less than 0.8 relative to a standard straight surgical needle. Also, this needle has a volume of less than 7 mm.sup.3 and a surface area of less than 70 mm.sup.2, is formed entirely of 300 series stainless steel, and has an eye, and the suture length is threaded through the eye. The needle having an attached suture length is used to manually sew the animal tissue to the manmade work piece that forms a part of the prospective bioprosthetic heart valve, while maintaining sufficient optical closeness to maintain the visibility of the needle.

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 needle camera adaptor includes a tube-shaped body having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen that extends along the longitudinal axis. A centrally-located lateral access opening is formed in an outer wall of the tube-shaped body. A needle securing channel is formed in the outer wall and extends between the lateral access opening and the distal end of the tube-shaped body. A curved suture needle is disposed within the needle securing channel. The needle securing channel and the curved suture needle extend along an axis that defines an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the needle camera adaptor. A visualization device, facing distally, is positioned within the lumen at the proximal end of the tube-shaped body. The lateral access opening, the needle securing channel, and the curved suture needle are located within a field of view of the visualization device.