A method for closing an opening in biological tissue of intra-abdominal structures, which includes the steps of (i) providing a tissue closure system that includes a suture guide sub-system for engaging tissue disposed proximate the tissue opening and a suture passer sub-system that slideably engages the suture guide sub-system, (ii) inserting the suture guide sub-system into and through a tissue opening, (iii) inserting the suture passer sub-system with a section of suture engaged thereto into and through a first tissue region, (iv) rotating the suture guide sub-system, (v) inserting the suture passer sub-system with another section of suture engaged thereto into and through a second tissue region, (vi) withdrawing suture guide sub-system, (vii) releasing both sections of the suture captured by the suture guide sub-system, and (viii) drawing both sections of the suture together, wherein the first and second tissue regions are drawn together and the tissue opening is closed.

Described herein are reusable surgical needles having a resiliently collapsible rear loop that captures a suture as it is passed through an object and resiliently expands upon exiting the object to release the suture. Also described are suture spool assemblies that include a rigid housing and a rotatable spool of suture material suspended within the housing so that a plurality of sutures can be dispensed from the assembly in succession during a surgery. Also described are annular pledgets having diametrical dimensions similar to an outer ring of a cardiac implant such that a single annular pledget can be used with a plurality of sutures that secure the cardiac implant to native tissue around the perimeter of the cardiac implant. Related methods of suturing cardiac implants are also disclosed.

A suture passer comprising: a hollow tube, said hollow tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end; and a suture manipulation rod slidably received in said lumen of said hollow tube and selectively projectable out said distal end of said hollow tube, said suture manipulation rod comprising a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end of said suture manipulation rod being bifurcated into a first arm and a second arm, wherein said first arm includes a hook comprising a proximally oriented hooking surface and a return extending proximally of said hooking surface; wherein said hollow tube and said suture manipulation rod are sized so that said suture manipulation rod may capture a suture disposed adjacent to said distal end of said hollow tube and draw the suture into said lumen of said hollow tube, and further wherein, after a suture has been drawn into said lumen of said hollow tube, distal movement of said suture manipulation rod causes the suture to be expelled from said hollow tube.

A medical device and method of use comprising a base portion having a length extending from proximal end and a distal end and a width extending from a first side to a laterally opposed second side. At least one arm extending from at least one of the first or second sides, the at least one arm extending a distance greater than the width of the base portion. The arm being configured to extend around at least a portion of a cervical isthmus.

A surgical needle includes a pair of ends, a mid-region extending between the ends, and at least one grasping feature configured for grasping by a suturing instrument. An end of a suture is secured to the mid-region of the needle in a manner such that the end of the suture defines an oblique angle with at least part of the centerline defined by the mid-region of the needle. The end of the suture may be disposed in a hollow portion of the needle. The grasping feature may include a notch such as a scallop. The suture may be pivotally coupled with the needle via a ball or pin. The needle may have one or more sharp points. The sharp point may include three converging cutting edges, at least two planar surfaces bounded by the three cutting edges, and a rounded surface bounded by two of the three cutting edges.

The double “J” laparoscopic fascial closure device has a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivotally attached to the fixed jaw. An elongated hollow tube or cannula extends from the fixed jaw. The end of the elongated cannula distal from the jaws has two needles mounted thereon defining a double “J” configuration. A spring mechanism or cable guide is attached to the hollow tube, and a cable extends between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw. The other end of the cable extends through the elongated hollow tube, through the spacer arms, and back towards the needles at the ends of the needle mount arms. A suture thread is attached to both needles so that the thread bridges the gap between fascia on opposite sides of the laparoscopic port incision when the needles are draw back through the fascia towards the incision.

A medical device includes a surgical needle, an elongated suture, and an intervening segment. The elongated suture has a first end proximate to the needle and a second end located away from the needle. The elongated suture also includes a plurality of fibers defining a mesh wall between the first and second ends. A plurality of pores extend through the mesh wall, at least some which are in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns for facilitating tissue integration when introduced into a body. The intervening segment is disposed between and connected to either or both ends of the elongated suture and the needle. The intervening segment includes one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers and has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mesh wall such that the intervening segment facilitates indirect attachment of the elongated macroporous mesh suture to the needle.

A surgical suturing device (10) having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end is operable to move a suture (32) through body tissue (34). A handle assembly (110) is coupled to an elongated shaft (14) having a hollow configuration. An actuating rod (16) is disposed to extend between the handle assembly (110) and the shaft (14). A thumb actuation assembly is coupled to a proximal end of the actuating rod (16) for moving the rod both axially and rotationally. A needle assembly (2) at the distal end of the actuating rod (16) is movable with the actuating rod (16) between an extended state and a retracted state and at various angular orientations.

Disclosed herein is a needle for being connected to a suture, including: a body having a tip portion disposed at one end portion thereof and a rear end portion disposed at the other end portion thereof; and a suture connection part formed in a side surface portion of the body, wherein the suture connection part includes a reception path extended toward a lengthwise axial portion of the body and receiving a portion of the suture therein, and a closure member constituting a portion of the body and deformed by external force after a portion of the suture is received in the reception path, thereby closing a portion of the reception path.

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for relocating a meniscus horn in a knee. The invention may be deployed during an arthroscopic procedure to apply external forces to a meniscus horn to pull the meniscus into a load bearing area of the knee, which may reduce contact stresses on articular cartilage in the knee and thereby ameliorate pain associated with an osteoarthritic joint. In one embodiment, the system includes a guide needle, suture thread, plug, elongate member, and bone anchor.