Suture passer devices and methods of using the devices having one or more protective interlocks preventing or limiting operation of the suture passer when deployment of the needle may damage the apparatus or harm the patient. For example, described herein are suture passer devices that include an interlock preventing deployment of the tissue penetrator (needle) when the jaws are not clamped onto a tissue. Also described herein are interlocks preventing retraction of a jaw axially until the needle is retracted.

A device can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed.

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.

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.

A surgical system, method, and apparatus for suturing a first anatomical structure to a second anatomical structure of a subject includes an endoscope tube for being advanced through a lumen of the first anatomical structure to a surgical site near the second anatomical structure. A manipulator arm extends through the endoscope tube to the surgical site, and includes a first concentric tube manipulator with an end effector configured to grasp and manipulate a suture at the surgical site. A needle arm extends through the endoscope tube to the surgical site, and includes a second concentric tube manipulator with a needle tip configured to pierce the tissue of the first and second anatomical structures. The needle arm is also configured to grasp the suture and to retract and pull the suture through the pierced tissue so that the suture extends through and forms stitching that stitches together the first and second anatomical structures.

An end effector for use with a surgical device is provided. The end effector includes a drive assembly, a driver, a needle assembly and a biasing element. The driver is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive assembly. Rotation of the drive assembly in a first direction causes distal translation of the driver with respect to the drive assembly. The needle assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the driver. Distal translation of the driver causes a corresponding distal translation of the needle assembly. The biasing element is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly and is configured to bias the needle assembly proximally.

A device can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed.

A suture apparatus having a housing, actuator and capture rod, the actuator being engaged to the capture rod to form an actuator-capture rod assembly, an elongated cannula shaft having a lumen that extends through the shaft, and capture rod retraction means, the housing including an internal region that is configured to receive and support the capture rod retraction means, actuator proximal end and actuator rod distal end therein, wherein said capture rod retraction means is in communication with said actuator. The actuator-capture rod assembly and capture rod retraction means being positioned and configured to transition from a retracted position to an extended position when an actuation force is applied to the actuator and return the retracted position by the retraction means when the actuation force is released.

The invention comprises a system, method, and apparatus for securing two ends of a ruptured or partially ruptured tendon in the hand or wrist during a repair, recession, or revision procedure. During this tenorrhaphy, anchoring material is inserted into the proximal ruptured surface of the tendon by an apparatus comprising multiple needles of at least two different types. Connecting material spans the site of tenorrhaphy of a ruptured tendon, or a multiplicity of ruptured tendons. In some embodiments, interlocking patterns of loop and helical suture are inserted by straight and helical needles, respectively.

Methods for suturing tissue by forming a locking loop of suture material. In particular, method of using a suture passer to arthroscopically create a locking loop of suture in difficult to access tissues. As used herein a locking loop of suture is a loop of suture that is passed through a tissue from a first side to a second side of the tissue; one or more of the legs of the loop extending from the first side are passed through the tissue to the second side of the tissue and are then passed through the loop, and the loop is cinched to tighten closed over the one or more legs. The resulting locking loops stitches are extremely strong and distribute the stresses across the tissue in a desirable manner.