A device that 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. The device can have a first jaw having a first jaw channel and a first jaw first stop. The shuttle can have a shuttle longitudinal axis and a shuttle first stop. The shuttle first stop can have a shuttle first stop distal end. The shuttle first stop distal end can be deflectable into the first jaw first stop. When the shuttle first stop distal end is in contact with the first jaw first stop, the shuttle can be passively retained in the first jaw. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site.

A suturing device includes a shuttle for holding a suture, a shuttle transmitter and a shuttle receiver. The shuttle transmitter includes a shuttle holder for holding the shuttle and a shuttle releaser displaceable relative to the shuttle holder for releasing the shuttle from the shuttle holder. The shuttle holder advances through a material at a first location while holding the shuttle until the shuttle engages the shuttle receiver. The shuttle releaser then releases the shuttle from the shuttle holder for withdrawal of the shuttle transmitter through the material, leaving the shuttle engaged with the shuttle receiver. The shuttle transmitter the penetrates the material at a second location opposite the shuttle receiver and retrieves the shuttle, holding it while withdrawing through the material at the second location. This sequence can be repeated to form a wide range of multi-stitch suture patterns for vascular closure and a wide range of other applications.

A needle reload device includes a loading assembly including a needle holder pulley and a needle release arm. The needle holder pulley includes a base including first and second portions configured to receive a needle. The needle release arm is transitionable between an engaged state, in which the needle release arm engages the needle holder pulley to inhibit rotation of the needle holder pulley, and a disengaged state, in which the needle release arm is disengaged from the needle holder pulley such that the needle holder pulley is rotatable. When the needle release arm is in the engaged state, the first portion of the needle holder pulley is positioned between jaws of a stitching device, and when the needle release arm is in the disengage state, the second portion of the base of the needle holder pulley is positioned between the jaws.

A stitching device includes a handle assembly and an elongate shaft assembly. The handle assembly includes a main rod and a drive conversion assembly including a cam wheel, a pivot block, first and second links, and a pawl. The pawl is operatively coupled to the main rod, and is configured to engage the pivot block to cause rotation of the pivot block which, in turn, causes reciprocating displacement of the first and second links. The elongate shaft assembly includes first and second blade drive members coupled to the cam wheel. The tool assembly includes first and second jaws and first and second blades. The first and second blades are operatively coupled with the respective first and second blade drive members, wherein axial displacement of the main rod transitions the first and second jaws between open and closed positions and causes reciprocating axial displacement of the first and second blades.

A crimping device for securing a suture to a double-pointed medical suture needle includes a lower block and an upper block that can be pressed against each other to secure the suture to the double-pointed medical suture needle. Each of the lower block and upper block have a first groove configured to accommodate the suture; and a second groove configured to accommodate the double-pointed medical suture needle, the second groove extending in a second groove extension substantially perpendicular to a first groove extension of the first groove, wherein the second groove comprises a protrusion at an intercept of the first groove and second groove. The disclosure further relates to a method of securing at least one suture to at least one double-pointed medical suture needle.

Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is moveable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device.

Embodiments of the disclosure encompass devices and methods related to laparoscopic surgical tools that allow a single user to suture an opening in tissue. The devices are suitable on a physical scale to allow repair of an opening in utero. The devices comprise two arms by which a needle is transitioned back and forth and that utilize a needle securing means to receive and release a needle, wherein the positioning of the securing means is controlled by the single user.

A suture assembly includes a translation assembly that is axially translatable within a working channel of an endoscope and is adapted to releasably secure and/or release a needle and a distal end cap that is securable to an end of the endoscope and is adapted to releasably secure and/or release the needle in order to pass the needle back and forth between the translation assembly and the distal cap. An attachment mechanism configured to releasably secure the distal endcap to an end of the endoscope.

A surgical suturing instrument includes first and second jaw members each defining a hole for detachable receipt of opposite ends of a curved needle. The first jaw member is rotatable relative to the second jaw member to move and transfer the curved needle between the jaw members. A first elongate locking element is slidable within the first jaw member between non-locking and locking positions. When the first elongate locking element is in the locking position and the curved needle is disposed within the hole of the first jaw member, a portion of the first elongate locking element is received in a notch defined in an end of the curved needle to selectively secure the curved needle to the first jaw member.

A reconfigurable suture needle includes an elongated body having a curved proximal section and a curved distal section. The curved proximal section is hollow and includes an elongated conduit extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The curved distal section includes a needle point at a distal end thereof and a hollow post projecting proximally from a proximal end thereof. A suture thread passes through the elongated conduit of the curved proximal section and has a distal end that passes through the hollow post of the curved distal section for being secured to the proximal end of the curved distal section. The elongated body has a first configuration with a higher profile in which the hollow post of the curved distal section is inserted into the elongated conduit at the distal end of the curved proximal section, and a second configuration with a lower profile in which the hollow post of the curved distal section is uncoupled from the elongated conduit at the distal end of the curved proximal section.