A suture grasper for retrieving a suture from an internal surgical site includes an inner shaft defining a tissue-penetrating tip, an intermediate shaft disposed about the inner shaft, and an outer shaft disposed about the intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft defines a plurality of spring fingers movable between a spread position, wherein the spring fingers extend radially outwardly from the inner shaft, and a compressed position, wherein the spring fingers are approximated about the inner shaft. The outer shaft is selectively translatable relative to the inner shaft and the intermediate shaft for moving the spring fingers between the spread position and the compressed position.

A suture assembly may include a needle having a cylindrical body with a sharp point on at least one end, a lumen extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, and a recess in communication with an opening to the lumen. A suture extends through the lumen and is secured within the recess of the needle by a sleeve extending over the needle.

A suture passing device includes a jaw assembly that is moved to an open configuration after exiting a hollow needle distal tip and moved to a closed configuration when retracted into the needle tip. The jaw assembly may include a pair of jaw members biased to a default diverging configuration. A suture capturing mechanism formed on the jaw members securely captures suture to both push and pull the captured when the jaw assembly is retracted into the hollow distal tip. The device may also include a second suture capturing mechanism that loosely captures suture and enables the captured suture to slide.

Described are methods of treating urinary incontinence using a urinary sling and a tissue path that passes through the obturator foramen, along with related surgical implants, devices, systems and kits.

A system for piercing through biological tissue and providing access to internal structures; particularly, intra-abdominal structures, and closing an opening in the tissue. The system includes a suture guide sub-system having a tissue positioning sub-system for engaging segments of tissue disposed proximate the tissue opening and a suture passer sub-system that slideably engages the suture guide sub-system. The suture passer sub-system includes suture deployment and capture means that is configured to removably secure a suture thereto and deliver the suture to the segments of tissue disposed proximate the tissue opening.

Various embodiments of a cartridge are disclosed, for loading a suture onto a suturing instrument and, in some embodiments, for loading a pre-tied knot formed from the suture onto the suturing instrument. The suturing instrument is typically of the type having a suture passing member defining a suture receiving passage therein. The cartridge may be operable to load the suture and/or the knot onto the suturing instrument at a point of use. In some embodiments, the cartridge defines a path for insertion thereto and withdrawal therefrom of the suturing instrument. The cartridge further comprises a seat for releasably holding a portion of a suture and a mechanism for transferring the suture from seat to the suturing instrument, various features of which are described herein.

A suture manipulating instrument for passing and retrieving suture through a tissue includes a handle mechanism, an elongate shaft extending from the handle, and a working distal end. The working distal end includes a needle body, a lumen defined by the needle body, a tissue penetrating distal tip, and a lateral slot. A preformed inner member is movably disposed within the lumen of the needle. The handle mechanism is used to extend the wire from the lateral slot of the needle, and to retract the wire into the lateral slot, allowing the working end of the instrument to grasp and manipulate suture by pinning and/or trapping the suture against the needle. In embodiments the inner member is further retracted within the needle lumen, drawing a length of suture into the needle lumen. The suture is subsequently ejected from the needle lumen to form a suture loop.

Various embodiments of a cartridge are disclosed, for loading a suture onto a suturing instrument and, in some embodiments, for loading a pre-tied knot formed from the suture onto the suturing instrument. The suturing instrument is typically of the type having a suture passing member defining a suture receiving passage therein. The cartridge may be operable to load the suture and/or the knot onto the suturing instrument at a point of use. In some embodiments, the cartridge defines a path for insertion thereto and withdrawal therefrom of the suturing instrument. The cartridge further comprises a seat for releasably holding a portion of a suture and a mechanism for transferring the suture from seat to the suturing instrument, various features of which are described herein.

In one embodiment, a medical device includes a needle and a catch. The catch has a body portion. The body portion of the catch defines a cavity. The catch is configured to be coupled to the needle such that at least a portion of the needle is disposed within the cavity.

A suture passing device has a curved, slotted shaft with a piercing end and an integral suture grasper, allowing the surgeon to pierce through a first tissue portion with the device and extend a looped portion of monofilament loaded within the shaft into the repair site. The shaft is then rotated so that the monofilament is allowed to fall out of the shaft through the slot. The surgeon then pierces a second tissue portion with the device and extends the suture grasper to capture the looped portion of monofilament. The monofilament is retrieved through the second tissue portion and a suture is passed through the looped portion of the monofilament. Finally, the flexible member is used to pull the suture through the tissue and the suture can be tensioned to close the hip capsule.