A system for passing suture through biological tissue using a cannula, introducer or other minimally invasive means, to approximate, ligate, fixate and/or close biological tissue. The system includes a hand grip in operative communication with an elongated tubular member having a jaw mechanism disposed on the tubular member distal end. The elongated tubular member housing a deformable tubular needle therein having a curvilinear portion and an internal lumen.

An adjustable suture passer for use in arthroscopic surgery is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustable suture passer comprises a head that describes a semicircular arc, an elongate body, a support element, and driving and control mechanisms. The head is adapted to accommodate a surgical needle and a guide wire. When the adjustable suture passer is activated, the needle is driven with sufficient force to penetrate bone. Use of the adjustable suture passer thus enables surgical attachment of soft tissue to bone without any necessity for a separate anchor.

A suture stitch or a series of suture stitches with loops underneath and substantially parallel to the surface of a tissue for subcuticular suturing for reduced or minimized scarring and reduced suturing time. Each subsequent stitch connects with the previous suture through material across the diameter. The suture stitch or series of suture stitches include one or more knots acting as anchors for the first loop in the suture stitch or series of suture stitches, and the suture stitch or series of suture stitches are preferably administered via an automated suturing device.

Apparatus and methods for arthroscopic meniscal tear repair. An apparatus includes a rigid outer sheath, and a needle residing within the rigid outer sheath, the needle including a superelastic material having an angled tip portion and a lumen having a longitudinal slot, a distal end of the needle having a bend, a deflection angle of the bend dependent upon an extent to which the needle is advanced from the stiff outer sheath.

A device for suturing an incision in an artery has a handle, a supply of suture stored on spindle housed in the handle, a tube extending from the handle having a lumen through which suture extends, and a curved needle at a distal end of the handle, the curved needle having an opening through which a free end of the suture extends. A method for suturing an incision in an artery includes creating sequential openings in first and second flaps of the incision, with loops of suture extending through openings in one flap, with a free end of suture extending through the second flap being pulled through the loops and secured to another free end of suture extending through the first flap, to close the incision.

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.

Systems and methods for coating surgical needles are provided.

The present disclosure relates to tissue traction devices and systems. In one example, a tissue tensioning system may include a filament having a first end comprising an attachment member, a second end, and a length therebetween extendable externally along a catheter. A first tissue fastener may be engageable with the attachment member and with a target tissue. The second end of the filament may be translatable to adjust a tensional force along the filament.

A method for passing a suture through tissue includes extending a distal end of a suture retainer of a suture passer from a distal portion of a tube of the suture passer; locating a suture adjacent the suture retainer; retracting the suture retainer partially into the tube and retaining a suture between a retaining portion of the suture retainer and a first portion of a cutaway in a side of a wall defining the tube, wherein the first portion of the cutaway curves around a longitudinal axis of the distal portion of the tube and two longitudinally extending portions of the cutaway extend distally from the first portion to a distal end of the tube; and passing the distal portion of the suture passer with the retained suture through tissue.

A steerable assembly comprises an elongated body structure with an implement arranged at a distal end thereof, wherein a premagnetized material is arranged closer to the distal end than a proximal end, and is configured to enable steering of the implement through tissue of an animal body responsive to application of a magnetic field eternal to the body. A method for guiding passage of an implement through tissue includes altering strength and/or position of at least one magnetic field source external to an animal body to interact with and effectuate movement of a premagnetized material inserted into the animal body.