A passive retrieving interosseous suture passing instrument (10) having a guide handle (13) with a proximal end for grasping and a distal end for engagement with a bone (11) to which suture (22) is to be attached. The bone (11) is provided with a first tunnel (15), and a suture retrieving arm (12) carried at the distal end of the guide handle (13) is provided with a distal tip dimensioned to be received in the first tunnel (15).

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.

A suture needle system includes a first needle and at least one second needle. Each of the first and second needles preferably has a common needle body construct. The first needle includes an elongate suture having a length sufficient to extend at least the length of an instrument channel of an endoscope. The second needle includes an opening formed by a loop of suture at which the second needle can be advanced over the elongate suture. In use, the first needle is secured to a first tissue location using an endoscopic suturing system. A second needle is advanced at its opening over the elongate suture and secured to a second tissue location. Additional second needles may be advanced over the elongate suture to respective tissue locations. The elongate suture is pulled taut, drawing the second needles into proximity, and secured.

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.

A surgical fixation system can include a fixation device, a loop connected to the fixation device, a graft carried by the loop, and a reinforcement material. Surgical fixation systems can be used in various tissue reconstruction procedures, including but not limited to, ACL and PCL reconstructions. The graft and the reinforcement material may be tensioned independently of one another to avoid stress shielding the graft.

There is provided a suture passer device used in procedures of robotic assisted minimally invasive suspension of the hyoid and tongue base in treatment of sleep apnea. The suture passer device is a dual use suture passer, having both suture insertor and extractor functionality on a single unitary instrument section of the device by means of insertion and extraction hooks positioned on an elongated needlelike body which is connected to a handle grip. The insertion and extraction hooks receive a suture via an opening in the body of the instrument, with the suture capable of removal and fastening to the extraction hook by robotic forceps. Procedures for using the device are disclosed which include a single point of entry on a patient and the device moved to first and second positions above and below the hyoid bone during robotic assisted surgery.

Devices and methods are described herein directed to an adaptor for use with a medical device used to suture tissue within a patient's body and/or for delivering and/or securing another medical device within a patient's body. In one embodiment, an apparatus to aid in the placement of a suture at a location within a body of a patient using a medical device includes a body and a coupler configured to couple the body to the medical device. The apparatus further includes a suture mounting portion disposed on the body that defines a suture slit configured to laterally receive therethrough a portion of a suture coupled to the medical device and to apply a frictional force to the suture to resist movement of the suture longitudinally therethrough. A magnitude of the frictional force being less than a longitudinal force applied to the suture by actuation of the medical device.

The disclosure provides improved methods and devices to create a hammock effect to stabilize the urethra without creating an incision in the abdomen or the vagina, and without using a surgical mesh. Such implementations can also leave no permanent material in the body. The simplicity afforded by such procedures and methods permits treatment of patients on an outpatient basis, and avoids risks and disadvantages associated with the installation of a permanent mesh.

The present invention relates to an instrument for band coupling between spinous processes that comprises: a needle unit that is inserted through a cutaway insertion portion of a patient's abdomen and is discharged through a cutaway discharge portion of the abdomen while passing between a spinous process protruding from the spine and a neighboring spinous process; and a band unit that is detachably coupled to an end portion of the needle unit and has a predetermined level of tension, the band unit being disposed between the spinous process and the neighboring spinous process, outside the spinous process, and outside the neighboring spinous process to secure the spinous process and the neighboring spinous process together. Thanks to the relatively cheap and simple configuration, it is possible to effectively conduct a procedure irrespective of proficiency, acquire an optimal procedure result, and cope with various patients' body types. In addition, the instrument can be maintained to be firmly secured after a procedure and can allow a micro-motion, thereby providing a state similar to the original spine to a patient.

This invention generally relates to devices and methods that allow an operator to deliver a suture and an implant coupled to the suture into the body of a patient without the need for direct-vision of the operator. In one aspect, a medical device includes a receiving arm that releasably holds an implant or suture in place for capture and a clamping arm that includes a needle deployment mechanism for advancing a needle directly to the implant for capture and for retracting the needle with the implant attached to deliver the implant into the desired location. The receiving arm includes a cavity with inner walls that are angled to direct the needle through the opening after the advancing needle pierces and goes through tissue of the patient. The angled walls facilitate movement of the needle into a position within the cavity where the implant gets engaged with the needle.