A chiral needle package and receptacle are configured together so as to allow a user to configure the suture package and receptacle in a first chiral configuration for right handed use and a second chiral configuration for left handed use. The chirality configurable suture package and needle receptacle can be configured in many ways, and may comprise a first cover on a first side to allow access to the one or more needles and the needle receptacle on first side corresponding to right handed use and chirality, and a second cover on a second side corresponding to left handed use and chirality. The chirality configurable suture package can be packaged with the chirality configurable needle receptacle in order to dispense and to receive needles, such that the suture package and the needle trap are packaged together in a sterile housing configured for right handed use or left-handed use.

A needle cartridge for a surgical suturing instrument includes a cartridge body, a track extending through the cartridge body and defining a circular path, an arcuate needle movably positioned within the track, and a suture thread extending from the arcuate needle. A needle driver operatively connects to the cartridge body and the arcuate needle. The needle driver is configured to orbit the arcuate needle along the circular path. A needle cover is secured to the cartridge body. A clearance channel extends through at least a portion of the cartridge body along the track in communication with the track such that the clearance channel at least partially defines a suture path. The suture path is configured to receive the suture thread extending from the trailing end of the arcuate needle as the arcuate needle moves along the circular path thereby inhibiting the suture thread from obstructing movement of the arcuate needle.

A package for surgical sutures has a base member, an outer wall extending upwardly form the periphery of the base member, a plurality of pyramidal shaped standoff members arranged in an oval shape and a flat suture channel cover member having a plurality of precision holes to lock the cover member to the standoff members of the base member. The inner surface of the outer wall of the base member is a profiled surface and the outer periphery of the cover member has a profiled surface corresponding to the profiled surface of the outer wall of the base member. The profiled surface of the outer wall can consist of a plurality of D shaped vertical members extending from the top surface of the base member to the top of the outer wall.

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.

Suture passers and methods of use. Described herein are suture passers preloaded with suture, including cartridges that couple to a suture passer to form a loaded suture passer that are configured to prevent a length of suture (e.g., already-passed suture) from re-entering the channel of the suture passer jaw and getting recaptured and/or entangled by the tissue penetrator. In particular, described herein are preloaded and automatically re-loading suture passers that are adapted to include a gate, guide, or shield on one of the jaws of the suture passer, and methods of operating such suture passers for surgical use including repairing tissue.

A suture package for storing sutures armed with needles. The suture package includes a base member with a base outer periphery and a top member with a top outer periphery. The base member includes a base outer wall extending upwardly from a top side of the base member and along the base outer periphery. The base outer wall includes a plurality of base teeth and a plurality of base intercostal spaces arranged alternatively around the base outer periphery. The top member includes a top outer wall extending downwardly from a bottom side of the top member and along the top outer periphery. The top outer wall includes a plurality of top teeth and a plurality of top intercostal spaces arranged alternatively around the top outer periphery.

An anchor and suture assembly is provided for use with an endoscopic suturing device with a needle holder arm. The anchor assembly includes an anchor tip and an anchor body. The anchor tip has a blunt end that may be rounded or beaded, a capture groove, a tab groove and a plug portion positioned between the capture groove and the tab groove. The anchor body has first and second ends, tip tabs, retainers for removably retaining the anchor body relative to the needle holder arm, and a suture opening. The anchor tip is fixed relative to the anchor body by plastic deformation of the tip tabs into the tab groove. A suture extends into the suture opening of the anchor body and is fixed therein.

A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a shaft and an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about an articulation joint. The surgical instrument comprises a plurality of rotation joints which can be simultaneously operated to maintain the alignment of a portion of the surgical instrument relative to the patient tissue.

A system for aligning a needle driver with a tip of a suture needle includes a suture needle package having a base, a needle driver alignment guide, and at least one connector for securing the suture needle. The needle driver alignment guide has first and second lateral guide walls that oppose one another for defining a needle driver guide channel. An end wall interconnects the first and second lateral guide walls for defining a distal end of the needle driver alignment guide. The at least one connector secures the suture needle over the base and controls the orientation of the suture needle so that a tip of the suture needle is located within the suture needle guide channel and is bounded by the end wall and the first and second lateral guide walls. A needle driver has a clamping assembly at a distal end that engages the end wall of the needle driver alignment guide for aligning the clamping assembly with the tip of the suture needle.