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.

Described are devices, implants, kits, and related methods for treating pelvic conditions such as urinary in incontinence, in a male or a female patient. The invention includes, in one embodiment, a multi-piece implant, including a tissue support piece, extension portion, and one or more self-fixating tips. The device may be employed through a medial incision in the pelvic region of the patient.

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.

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.

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.

A system for introducing a surgical instrument through a tissue lumen having: a surgical instrument; a dilator for dilating bodily tissue having an elongated body for positioning the dilator and a tapered section for facilitating dilation of the tissue lumen; and a cone having conical body that tapers from the proximal end to the distal end and facilitates insertion of the cone and the surgical instrument through the tissue lumen, an axial bore that extends longitudinally through the cone and receives an anvil retainer, a collar that engages the distal end of the surgical device and prevents lateral movement of the cone, grooves that engage the surface of the tapered section and reduce the friction between the cone and the tissue lumen, a securing device for securing the cone to the surgical instrument, and a retrieval device for retrieving the cone from a bodily cavity.

According to a general aspect, an insertion device includes an elongate member defining a lumen, a handle member movably coupled to the elongate member, a plunger member, at least a portion of the plunger member being disposed within the lumen defined by the elongate member, and an actuation member operatively coupled to the plunger member, the plunger member being configured to move from a first position within the lumen to a second location within the lumen in response to the actuation member being actuated.

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.

A minimally invasive surgical method of approximating tissue includes coupling an adjustable loop of suture around an inserter. The loop can be coupled to the inserter by applying tension to a tail of the suture to collapse the loop around the inserter, then the inserter and loop are passed through a first location in tissue. The loop is decoupled from the inserter, the inserter is retracted from the first location, and reinserted into a second location in the tissue, after which the loop is recoupled to the inserter while the loop is distal of the tissue. The decoupling, retraction, and reinsertion can occur without withdrawing the inserter from the patient's body. The inserter and loop are then withdrawn together from the tissue through this second location and outside of the patient's body. The tails and loop can form a luggage knot to be reduced around the tissue.

The present invention refers to a meniscus suture device comprising a handle for handling the device which comprises a push button with axial displacement, a cannula extending from the handle and having a free extremity opposite the handle, a movable rod housed and axially displaceable inside the cannula, the movable rod comprising a first extremity which extends inside the handle and a second extremity, opposite the handle, which has an indenture for capturing a suture thread, wherein the first extremity of the rod comprises a driving mechanism connected to the push button of the handle, for activating the axial displacement of the movable rod inside the cannula, and whereby when the axial displacement of the movable rod inside the cannula is activated, the second extremity of the rod extends outside the orifice of the cannula.