A surgical needle includes a pair of ends, a mid-region extending between the ends, and at least one grasping feature configured for grasping by a suturing instrument. An end of a suture is secured to the mid-region of the needle in a manner such that the end of the suture defines an oblique angle with at least part of the centerline defined by the mid-region of the needle. The end of the suture may be disposed in a hollow portion of the needle. The grasping feature may include a notch such as a scallop. The suture may be pivotally coupled with the needle via a ball or pin. The needle may have one or more sharp points. The sharp point may include three converging cutting edges, at least two planar surfaces bounded by the three cutting edges, and a rounded surface bounded by two of the three cutting edges.

An interlocking two-part sewing needle includes a first needle portion having a needle tip and a second needle portion configured to be inserted into the first needle portion for removably connecting the first needle portion and the second needle portion together. A needle receiver is formed in the first needle portion and is configured to receive the second needle portion when the second needle portion is inserted into the first needle portion. The needle receiver includes one or more non-resistance sections. Each non-resistance section is configured to exert only a friction force on the second needle portion when the second needle portion is inserted into the needle receiver. Additionally, the needle receiver includes one or more resistance sections. Each resistance section is configured to exert a compressive force on the second needle portion when the second needle portion is inserted into the needle receiver.

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.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a system for repairing a meniscus including: a suture assembly including a first anchor, a second anchor, and a flexible suture connecting the first anchor and the second anchor, the flexible suture including a slide knot between the first anchor and the second anchor; and an inserter including a needle having a longitudinal extending bore and an open distal end, the bore being configured to receive the first anchor and the second anchor, a housing operatively connected to a proximal end of the needle, the housing having a lumen and a slot, the slot including a first portion, a second portion, a first shoulder and a second shoulder and a pusher configured to rotate and slide within the lumen of the housing and the longitudinal extending bore of the needle, the pusher having an extension extending through the slot and configured to be maneuverable through the first portion and second portion and engageable with the first shoulder and second shoulder.

An endoscopic treatment tool includes: a needle tube in which a needle tube insertion passage extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the needle tube is formed; a stylet which is disposed to move freely in the needle tube insertion passage; a main manipulation part which is connected to a proximal end side of the needle tube, the main manipulation part supporting the stylet such that the stylet advances while rotating, and the main manipulation part operating the stylet; a manipulation transmission member which has flexibility and the manipulation transmission member is connected to the stylet; and an auxiliary manipulation part which includes a handle fixed to a proximal end portion of the manipulation transmission member and the auxiliary manipulation part is configured such that the manipulation transmission member advances while rotating in accordance with a manipulation of the handle.

Devices for closing a passage through tissue communicating with a body lumen. The device may include an elongate body, a sheath disposed at the distal end of the device for disposition within a body lumen, a hollow needle disposed within a needle lumen of the body, the needle being selectively advanceable through the needle lumen, a suture-anchor ejection mandrel disposed within the hollow needle that is also selectively advanceable through the hollow needle, a suture-anchor and suture disposed within the hollow needle, a distal end of the suture attached to the suture anchor for ejection out the hollow needle by the mandrel. A needle guide disposed between the sheath and proximal end of the body may include a needle port through which the needle can exit. A hemostatic plug is disposed over the needle port so as to be penetrated by the needle upon exiting the port.

Methods and devices for transvascular prosthetic chordae tendineae implantation are disclosed. A catheter is advanced into the left atrium. From an atrium side, a leaflet anchor having a leaflet suture is secured to the mitral valve leaflet. A ventricular anchor is anchored to the wall of the ventricle to secure the ventricular wall to a ventricle suture. The leaflet suture and the ventricle suture may be tensioned and connected by a suture lock to form an artificial chordae. The suture lock has a body with a suture path extending therethrough. A wall in the housing is movable to reduce the cross section of the suture path. A drive mechanism advances the movable wall to clamp sutures extending through the suture path, in response to rotation of a coupling on the housing.

A suture passer comprising: a hollow tube, the hollow tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end; and a clamping rod slidably received in the lumen of the hollow tube, the clamping rod comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being bifurcated into a first arm and a second arm, one of the first and second arms extending distally of the other of the first and second arms and including a clamping surface; wherein at least one of the first arm and the second arm comprises a friction-enhancing surface for facilitating manipulation of a suture via engagement of the suture with the friction-enhancing surface.

A suture passer and method for passing suture in tissue repair and other surgical procedures. The suture passer has an outer stiff tube component and a flexible tube component which is both cannulated and retractable. The inner tube (i.e., the cannulated, flexible, retractable tube) is preferably made of NiTi and has a predefined curve. The inner tube is deployed and retracted from the outer stiff tube. The configuration of the inner tube allows the instrument to be introduced into a space through a small portal and then deployed to provide leverage and improved reach (without creating large portals).

A medical device includes a surgical needle, an elongated suture, and an intervening segment. The elongated suture has a first end proximate to the needle and a second end located away from the needle. The elongated suture also includes a plurality of fibers defining a mesh wall between the first and second ends. A plurality of pores extend through the mesh wall, at least some which are in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns for facilitating tissue integration when introduced into a body. The intervening segment is disposed between and connected to either or both ends of the elongated suture and the needle. The intervening segment includes one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers and has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mesh wall such that the intervening segment facilitates indirect attachment of the elongated macroporous mesh suture to the needle.