A surgical suture apparatus for passing a double-ended surgical needle forwards and backwards includes a main body, a first jaw element and a second jaw element, each including a holding device to hold a needle-end of the surgical needle. The first jaw element and second jaw element are movable with respect to each other between a take-over position, where a surgical needle can be passed between the first holding device and the second holding device, and an open position. The surgical apparatus further includes an operating device to operate the first holding device and the second holding device to alternately hold the first needle-end by the first holding device and the second needle-end by the second holding device, where the first jaw element is detachably mounted on the main body.

A laparoscopic suturing device is provided. The suturing device can pass a suturing needle back and forth between jaws of a jaw assembly to suture tissue at a surgical site in a minimally invasive procedure. The jaw assembly can have a pivotable jaw member in each jaw to position the jaw assembly and needle in a low-profile stowed configuration for insertion through a low diameter surgical port. The jaw assembly can be actuated by a handle assembly that provides simultaneous needle passing from a driving jaw to a receiving jaw and latching the needle within the receiving jaw in a single trigger cycle.

A control handle for use with a suture device operable through an endoscope includes a grip attachment configured to be secured to an endoscope and a control housing operably secured to the grip attachment. A catheter housing is moveably disposed within the control housing and adapted to releasably secure the suture catheter such that translation of the catheter housing causes translation of the suture catheter. A lever is rotatably securable relative to the catheter housing such that rotation of the lever relative to the catheter housing causes the catheter housing to move relative to the control housing. A sliding tab is disposed relative to the lever such that movement of the sliding tab relative to the lever causes the suture catheter to translate relative to the control wire disposed within the suture catheter.

An endoscopic handle attachment is adapted to be secured to an endoscope having a working channel and used in combination with a suture device adapted to extend through the working channel. The attachment includes a backbone adapted to conform to an outer surface of the endoscope and that includes one or more attachment features adapted to enable releasable securement to the endoscope. A primary arm extends radially outwardly from the backbone and includes one or attachment points, at least one of the one or more attachment points adapted to releasably secure a proximal handle of the suture device such that a translation handle may be moved relative to the proximal handle without an operator needing to separately hold the proximal handle.

A loader is disclosed that can load a suture and/or a shuttle into a suture device. The loader can have a suture and/or a shuttle that can be moved (e.g., via a loader control) from a non-loaded configuration to a loaded configuration without damaging the suture or the shuttle. The shuttle can be moved from a shuttle first position to a shuttle second position. When the shuttle is in the shuttle first position, a suture device can be positionable in a device space on the loader. When the suture device is positioned in the device space, the shuttle can be moved from the shuttle first position to the shuttle second position. When the shuttle is in the shuttle first position, the shuttle can be outside the suture device. When the shuttle is in the shuttle second position, the shuttle can be inside the suture device.

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 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 suture assembly may include a needle having a cylindrical body with a sharp point on at least one end, a lumen extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, and a recess in communication with an opening to the lumen. A suture extends through the lumen and is secured within the recess of the needle by a sleeve extending over the needle.

A suture device may include a suture translation assembly configured to be axially translatable within a lumen of a delivery system and a distal assembly configured to be securable to the distal end of the delivery system. The suture translation assembly and the distal assembly may cooperate to enable a user to pass a needle back and forth between the two in order to endoscopically suture a defect.

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.