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.

Described are devices, implants and kits for treating incontinence in a male or female. In particular an assembly comprising a multi-piece implant comprising a support portion piece (82) and two extension portion pieces (84) adjustably connected to the support portion piece, and an adjusting tool (92) to allow adjustment of extension portion pieces relative to the support portion piece, is described.

A medical device for installing sutures to close an incision in tissue or human skin is disclosed. The suturing device may provide first and second arcuate needles. Once properly positioned, the first and second arcuate needles are driven through the sub-dermal layer, or alternatively through a superficial surface, of two sections of skin to be joined. This is done in arcuate fashion and at identical and symmetrical rates of angular displacement. During the driving or retraction process of the first and second arcuate needles, a suture is positioned within both the first and second sections of skin and transformed from a planar or a multi-planar serpentine orientation to a helical orientation. The resulting suturing process is thus much faster than conventional or manual suturing and results in superior wound approximation/alignment that will lead to decreased scarring compared to prior art devices.

A suture transport system is disclosure for placing a flexible member along a tunnel, the system including a means of transporting a flexible member along a tunnel from a first opening in the tunnel through to a second opening at an opposite end of the tunnel, such that the flexible member extends from both the first and second opening. The system also includes a means of capturing a portion of the flexible member at the second opening, to inhibit the flexible member from retracting into the tunnel second opening. The means of capturing includes an aperture for capturing the portion of the flexible member.

A passive retrieving interosseous suture passing instrument (10) having a guide handle (13) with a proximal end for grasping and a distal end for engagement with a bone (11) to which suture (22) is to be attached. The bone (11) is provided with a first tunnel (15), and a suture retrieving arm (12) carried at the distal end of the guide handle (13) is provided with a distal tip dimensioned to be received in the first tunnel (15).

Described are methods and apparatus for use in supporting tissue in a patient's body. In some embodiments, the patient's breast is supported. In some embodiments, the methods provide ways of supporting and adjusting tissue, and the apparatus includes components and embodiments for supporting and adjusting the tissue. Some embodiments include a supporting device, having a first portion, a second portion, and a support member positioned between the first portion and second portion. Some embodiments include advancing the first portion of the supporting device into the body to a first location in the body; advancing the second portion of the supporting device into the body to a second location in the body; securing the first portion of the supporting device at the first location; and shifting soft tissue in the body with the support member.

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.

This invention relates to surgical suturing devices and methods by which suture may be passed through tissue during surgery, and, more particularly, to an improved blade of a suture passer needle. The suture passer needle includes a first side, a second side, and a blade disposed at an end of the needle. The blade has a first edge extending from the first side of the needle and a second edge extending from the second side of the needle, which converge to a tip of the blade. A notch is disposed in the blade and forms an opening in the first side of the blade. The blade also has one or more cutout portions distal and/or proximal the notch, which minimize the stress and strain placed on the blade. The suture passer needle can be incorporated into surgical suturing devices or suture passer devices to pass suture through a tissue body.

An adjustable anchor system provides for securing tissue to bone and includes an anchor with a collapsible suture loop affixed thereto and a tissue suture connected to the collapsible suture loop. After the tissue suture is loaded into the tissue and the anchor implanted into the bone the collapsible loop is collapsed to tension the tissue suture.

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.