Apparatus and methods are provided for treating a tissue opening, for example a trocar opening used in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. In a tissue closure device, a finger guard or shield can be used, handle or holding area or areas can be used, and positioning indicators can be used. A resiliently flexible target material can also be used for reliably holding a suture during the procedure. The resiliently flexible target material may be included as part of a removable mating component for use with a movable wing. Introducers can be used having a suture holder, an alignment indicator and insertion limits.

In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a medical assembly, including a sub-urethral implant, a strap, a dilator, and a suture. The implant includes a first end portion and a second end portion such that the strap is configured to be attached to the first end portion of the implant. The strap is attached to the implant through a weld. The strap is further configured to be coupled to the dilator. The suture can be coupled to the dilator.

Apparatus and methods are provided for treating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and other pelvic defects or dysfunctions, in both males and females, using one or more lateral implants to reinforce the supportive tissue of the urethra. The implants can be configured as a sling device having at least one extension arm and a tissue support portion having an eyelet, wherein a portion of the at least one extension arm is adapted to slide through and adjustably attach with the eyelet.

Disclosed is a laparoscopic port site closure device. The device is configured such that a cartridge receiving a surgical suture therein is provided at a fore-end of a needle guide for port site closure; the surgical suture is caught in a needle tip that is pierced through a body tissue by being guided by the needle guide; and when the needle is withdrawn, the surgical suture is pulled out along a path through which the needle was pierced into the tissue, and the surgical suture is tied outside a patient's body, thereby being capable of closing a laparoscopic port site.

A surgical suture is caught in a needle tip that is pierced through a body tissue; and when the needle is withdrawn, the surgical suture is pulled out along a path through which the needle was pierced into the tissue, and the surgical suture is tied outside a patient's body. The surgical suture for the laparoscopic port site closure device, wherein the laparoscopic port site closure device is in a tube shape for being introduced into a port site, includes: a tubular body provided with needle guides that face each other and guide insertion of a needle; wings mounted to a lower portion of the tubular body such that the wings are opened and closed through a cam method; and an operating stick penetrating through the tubular body to operate the wings to be opened and to be closed.

A lead puncture needle includes a core rod, a puncture needle, a lead mechanism and a handle. A front end of the core rod includes a blunt head and a lead slot. During puncture, the puncture needle is exposed. After the puncture, the blunt head protrudes out of the puncture needle to avoid injury to normal tissue. When a button is pressed, the core rod moves downward, and the lead slot protrudes from the puncture needle. When the button is pressed again, the core rod moves upward, and the lead slot is retracted into the puncture needle to form traction on a surgical suture. The design of the blunt head ensures that it is retracted during puncture to expose the puncture needle to facilitate puncture and the blunt head is controlled to be exposed outside the puncture needle in a separation process, thereby avoiding accidental injury to the surrounding tissue.

Embodiments include systems and methods for closure of a hole or other defect, for example in context of a laparoscopic surgical procedure. For example, a suturing device and method of use involve inserting the device into a hole, positioning material around the hole into a notch of the device, passing a needle through a cavity in the device and the material positioned in the notch, passing a suture through the eye of the needle, and removing the needle from the material with the suture. The suture can be removed and the process can be repeated with another end of the suture at another location through the material, around the hole. When the suture is passed through the second point of penetration, the suture can now extend both into and out of the material at different points around the hole and can be tied, thereby closing the hole.

The present invention relates to the treatment of persons with urinary incontinence. More particularly, the invention extends to a set of introducers (also commonly referred to as tunnelers) shaped to accommodate the Altis® suburethral sling (Coloplast Corporation), which is commonly used in surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence.

The present invention discloses a medical assembly including an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a tapered tip. The tapered tip is configured to slide through a bodily tissue. The elongate member has a width referred to as a first width across at least a portion of the elongate member. The medical assembly further includes an implant having a first surface and a second surface. The implant is coupled to the elongate member such that a portion of the first surface of the implant is overlaid over a portion of the elongate member while the second surface faces opposite to the elongate member and is configured to contact the bodily tissue while being inserted. The implant has a width referred to as a second width such that the second width is smaller than the first width of the elongate member.

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.