A rotation adapter for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus is disclosed. The rotation adapter has a proximal journal and a distal journal. The rotation adapter also has a rotation index coupled between the proximal and distal journals. The rotation adapter further has an actuator input and an effector output. A rotation adapter receiver for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus is also disclosed. The rotation adapter receiver has opposing beams and a proximal bushing coupled between the opposing beams. The rotation adapter receiver also has a distal bushing coupled between the opposing beams. The rotation adapter receiver further has a rotation constraint coupled between the opposing beams and positioned between the proximal and distal bushings.

Devices are provided for a suturing device used during laparoscopic surgical procedures. A suturing needle includes a shaft forming a rod axis; a curved body having a piercing tip at a first end and a base at a second end; and an arm extending radially from the shaft to the base of the curved body such that the curved body is positioned in a plane orthogonal to the rod axis of the shaft and rotatable about the shaft in the plane orthogonal to the rod axis. The suturing device includes a housing, a suturing needle, one or more sutures, a suture magazine configured to hold the one or more sutures, and a drive system, whereby the drive system may actuate the suturing needle to rotate in the plane orthogonal to the drive system, allowing the suturing needle to drive in to and out of tissue to apply a suture.

Suture passer devices include a cannulated needle, a slidable member extending through the needle and a handle attached to a proximal portion of the needle. An actuator is in operative communication with a proximal portion of the slidable member. The actuator is configured to selectively translate the slidable member distally relative to the needle whereby the slidable member is extended relative to a distal portion of the needle and proximally relative to the needle whereby the slidable member is retracted and secured in a retracted position relative to the distal portion of the needle. The actuator further includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the slidable member while in the retracted position. A first range of motion of the actuator is configured to control extending and retracting the slidable member and a second range of motion is configured to control locking and unlocking the slidable member.

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 needle (16) for deploying a suture is provided. The needle (16) has a feeding end (11) with an aperture (19) for receiving the suture and a pointed end (3) for creating an incision. The needle (16) extends between the feeding end (11) and the pointed end (3). The needle (16) also has a second aperture (18) and an interior channel (5) extending between the first aperture (19) and the second aperture (18) for transporting the suture from the first aperture (19) to the second aperture (18). A kit for deploying sutures includes at least one suture, at least one needle (16) and at least one pusher (12). The pusher (12) pushes the suture through the interior channel (5) of the needle (16) and out of the second aperture (18).

A suture passer device for passing a length of suture through an object. The suture passer device includes a hollow tube having a proximal end and a curved distal tube portion extending to a distal end. The suture passer device also includes a handle attached to the proximal end of the hollow tube, an actuator on the handle movable between first, second, and third positions, and an internal arm within the curved distal tube portion and connected to the actuator. The internal arm is movable between first, second, and third configurations. When the actuator is in the first position, the internal arm extends out from the distal tube portion at an angle from the distal tube portion in the first configuration. When the actuator is in the second position, the internal arm is retracted within the distal tube portion in the second configuration.

Methods for repairing a meniscus, and particularly a torn meniscus. A method of repairing a meniscus may include using a suture passer to pass a suturing element from the region between the superior surface of the meniscus and the femoral condyle, through the meniscus tissue, into the region between the inferior surface of the meniscus and the tibial plateau, across the inferior surface of the meniscus, and back to the superior surface of the meniscus, without deeply penetrating the posterior capsular region of the knee. Equivalently, the suture element may be passed from the inferior surface of the meniscus to the superior surface and back to the inferior surface.

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 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 jaw members have configurations of teeth that may be staggered axially and vertically.

Devices and methods for inserting an implant into skin or other tissue of a patient can include a hyaluronic thread that is coupled at along distal portion with an insertion device. The insertion device can include a cover member and a piston that can collectively facilitate engagement with or disengagement of the distal portion of the thread with the device. For example, the piston can be positioned within an inner cavity of the cover member, and the distal portion of the thread can be engaged by and/or between the piston and the cover member. The thread can be released by movement of the piston relative to the cover member. Thus, some insertion devices can grasp or engage the distal portion of the thread and push the distal portion thread into and through into skin or other tissue of a patient.