A system including a bone punch tool and a needle guide. The bone punch tool can include a support arm having a support arm proximal portion and a support arm distal portion, a pivot arm having a pivot arm proximal portion and a pivot arm distal portion, and an arcuate punch configured to punch through bone. The pivot arm distal portion can be pivotably coupled to the support arm distal portion, such that the pivot arm proximal portion is configured to be moved away from the support arm proximal portion to extend the arcuate punch into a punch position to punch an arcuate hole through bone. The needle guide can be configured to guide a needle through the arcuate hole.

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.

Devices, systems and/or methods for fixating soft tissue at a soft tissue site are provided. The system includes a base member with multiple passer devices that carry a first suture therewith. The passer devices and first suture are passed through soft tissue to form loops adjacent at least a portion of the passer devices along one side of the soft tissue. A second suture is threaded through each of the loops and the passer devices are removed from the soft tissue. In this manner, first and second sutures may be coupled to the soft tissue.

The present invention discloses a closure device having a proximal end and a distal end, introduced into a blood vessel, comprising at least two pre-shaped hollow tubes having a proximal end, substantially at said proximal end of said closure device and a distal end, adapted to be introduced from said distal end of said closure device into said blood vessel; wherein, upon deployment of said two pre-shaped hollow tubes within said blood vessel, said distal ends thereof are adapted to (i) engage into mechanical contact, such that a suture being threaded through at least one of said pre-shaped hollow tube can be extracted from the second pre-shaped hollow tube.

A kit for placing a bypass between two body vessels (R, L) of a patient comprises two catheters (10, 11), two guide wires (30, 31) moveable within one of the catheters (10, 11) each and a bypass element delivery system (52, 53, 8) for holding a bypass element (6, 7). The bypass element delivery system (52, 53, 8) is moveable along the first guide wire (30) and the bypass element delivery system (52, 53, 8) is capable of releasing and setting free the bypass element (6, 7). The kit further comprises an expansible element (40) being capable of connecting with the bypass element delivery system (52, 53, 8), of moving the bypass element delivery system (52, 53, 8) towards the opposite end of the first guide wire (30) and of setting the bypass element delivery system (52, 53, 8) free. The inventive kit enables an atraumatic placement of a bypass.

A suturing catheter for reducing mitral insufficiency by applying suturing points percutaneously is provided. The suturing catheter has a catheter body provided with a distal end and at least one internal lumen, at least one U-folded suture filament with two free ends, each provided with a suture needle, a pair of stylets, each provided with a catch needle, the suture and catch needles being provided with a connecting portion that allows a catch needle to mechanically engage with a suture needle, and a lever having a stapling arm, from which the suture needles protrude. The stapling arm, together with the catheter body, from which the catch needles protrude, defines a catch zone for a flap of a mitral valve. An opposite operating arm, together with the catheter body, defines an operating zone of the lever.

A device 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. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed.

Devices, systems and/or methods for fixating soft tissue at a soft tissue site are provided. The system includes a base member with multiple passer devices that carry a first suture therewith. The passer devices and first suture are passed through soft tissue to form loops adjacent at least a portion of the passer devices along one side of the soft tissue. A second suture is threaded through each of the loops and the passer devices are removed from the soft tissue. In this manner, first and second sutures may be coupled to the soft tissue.