Disclosed is a suturing needle having a tapered transition portion extending from a proximal end of the needle to cover at least a portion of a suture thread swaged on the needle. The tapered transition portion is flexible and provides a smooth transition from a diameter of the suture thread to a diameter of the needle body. The tapered transition portion allows for engaging the suture needle on rollers of a rotational needle driver in one smooth motion.

A suturing needle having a substantially circular cross-section and a non-smooth profile, and methods of suturing with the needle using a rotational needle driver. The profile of the needle may include a plurality of indentations that form protruding ridges along a longitudinal length of the needle. These ridges may match grooves within rollers of the needle driver. The suture needle may further include a tapered transition portion extending from a proximal end of the needle to cover at least a portion of a suture thread transition portion on the needle. The tapered transition portion is flexible and provides a smooth transition from the suture thread diameter to the needle diameter, so that the rollers may engage the needle in one smooth motion.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a black-colored medical device being safe for living bodies with a shortened time for applying a pulse potential. The method for producing the black-colored medical device includes a step S1 of applying a square wave pulse potential to a stainless-steel medical device immersed in an electrolytic aqueous solution as one electrode for 40 to 90 minutes to form a colored passivation film on a surface of the medical device; and a step S3 of applying silicone to the medical device after applying the pulse potential. The method may include a step of curing a part of the medical device after the step of applying the pulse potential and before the step of applying silicone.

A reconfigurable suture needle includes an elongated body having a curved proximal section and a curved distal section. A joint interconnects a distal end of the curved proximal section and a proximal end of the curved distal section. The joint enables the curved proximal section and the curved distal section to rotate relative to one another between a first configuration having a higher profile and a second configuration having a lower profile. Each of the curved proximal and distal sections of the elongated body defines about one-quarter of a circle. The elongated body has a semi-circular shape when in the first configuration and a wave shape when in the second configuration. The elongated body is rotated into the smaller profile for passing through a cannula and, after passing through the cannula, rotated back into the higher profile for use as a suturing needle.

A composite suture needle configured for passing through a smaller cannula used in minimally invasive surgery includes a curved elongated body made of stainless steel. The curved elongated body has a proximal end and a distal end with a pointed tip. The composite suture needle includes a sheath overlying the curved elongated body. The sheath is curved for conforming to the shape of the curved elongated body. The sheath is made of a material that is more elastic than the curved elongated body. The pointed tip of the curved elongated body extends distally beyond the distal end of the sheath. The curved elongated body is made of stainless steel and the sheath is made of a material, such as nitinol, that is more elastic than the elongated body.

A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.

A suture thread is used to perform suturing without tying part of or the whole of knots that are supposed to be tied during suturing. A suture thread support body prevents an end of the suture thread from being pulled into a suturing site. A needle accommodation body has a shape of a tube having a through-hole through both ends. The suture thread has the suture thread support body and the needle accommodation body.

Implant systems and related methods for joining bone and/or tissue portions is disclosed. The implant systems include a first flexible anchor tube comprising a first annular side wall defining a first internal cavity, a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and a second flexible anchor tube comprising a second annular side wall defining a second internal cavity, a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. The implant systems also comprise at least one suture that passes through the first and second side walls a plurality of times. The at least one suture extends along a pattern that prevents the second anchor tube from translating along the at least one suture and allows the first anchor tube to translate along the at least one suture toward the second anchor tube when first and second end portions of the at least one suture are tensioned.

A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a needle driver at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the needle driver is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the needle driver, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis.

An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes proximal section having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the proximal section; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the proximal section, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the proximal section to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.