A machine for winding suture into a suture tray package includes a base platform with package nests, each nest including upwardly-extending locating pins. A workstation places an empty tray onto one nest. Another workstation feeds a needle with attached suture in the tray and parks the needle in the tray. A winding station for winding the suture into a tray winding channel includes a rotatable winding head with configurable suture guiding pins, a stripper plate pushing the wound suture off the guiding pins, a suture control arm with proximal and distal ends and top and bottom sides, the distal end having a front standoff and a rear standoff incorporating a suture guiding channel, and a base member mounting the arm to base platform. A lid placement station places a lid onto a nest, a lid attachment station attaches lid to tray and an offloading station removes trays from nests.

A needle removal device is provided for removing needles from suturing devices and/or systems. In an embodiment, the needle removal device may be intended for use with a suturing device having one or more needle lumens. The needle removal device may include a first member having a first plurality of needle receptacles extending therethrough. The first needle receptacles may be configured and positioned to correspond to one or more of the one or more needle lumens of the suturing device. The needle removal device may also include a second member having a second plurality of needle receptacles extending therethrough. At least one of the first member or the second member may be moveable between a first position, wherein the first needle receptacles and the second needle receptacles are substantially aligned, and a second position, wherein the first needle receptacles and the second needle receptacles substantially unaligned.

A suturing device include a handle, an elongate body, an actuator, and a needle holder. The elongate body connects with the handle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator includes a manually operated member including an operator contact surface. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip and defining a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The needle passage is configured to receive at least a portion of an associated needle when the actuator is in the first operating position. The needle holder and the elongate body are rotatable with respect to the handle about a rotational axis.

A suturing device includes an elongate body, a needle holder, an actuator, a needle and a needle retainer. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. Movement of the actuator from the first operating position toward the second operating position moves the needle in an advance direction. The needle is in the needle passage. The needle retainer engages the needle holder and the needle when the actuator is in the first operating position and inhibits movement of the needle toward distal opening while the actuator is in the first operating position.

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.

A surgical instrument for use in passing suture through tissue is provided that includes first and second jaws disposed on a distal end of an elongate shaft and configured to grasp tissue therebetween, and a needle selectively movable along a longitudinal channel extending through an outer side wall of the first jaw. The first jaw has a cavity configured to seat a removable and replaceable suture magazine. The suture magazine can be coupled to a suture magazine carrier that is removed before the surgical instrument is activated cause to the needle to advance distally and thereby pass a suture coupled thereto through tissue in a patient's body. As the needle is retracted proximally, a subsequent suture portion, such as a loop, is loaded onto the needle. The jaws remain in the body during passing the suture through the tissue.

A loading unit assembly for use with a surgical suturing apparatus includes a surgical needle and a support structure configured for releasably securing the surgical needle. The support structure may include a first finger and a second finger adjacent to the first finger. The first and second fingers may define a first channel therebetween. The support structure may also include a third finger defining a seat portion and a back portion. The seat and back portions may be in facing relation with the first and second fingers. The third finger and the first and second fingers may define a second channel therebetween. The surgical needle may be loaded in the second channel and may be in abutment with at least the seat portion.

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.

The present disclosure includes a suturing device including: a fixed arm having a fixed jaw including a first grasping slot configured to receive a needle; a movable arm coupled to a movable jaw including a second grasping slot configured to receive the needle, the movable arm configured to pivot relative to the fixed arm to pivot the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw until the needle is received in the first grasping slot and the second grasping slot; and a needle transfer mechanism configured to grasp the needle in the first grasping slot or the second grasping slot. In some aspects, the suturing device includes a safety member configured to control when the movable arm moves. The present disclosure includes a loading apparatus including a loading slot configured to receive a fixed jaw and a slider configured to move the needle towards into the fixed jaw.

A packaging for a surgical needle comprises a cartridge. The cartridge comprises a surgical needle and a needle driver configured to engage and move the needle relative to the cartridge. The packaging further comprises a spool comprising a helical channel and a length of suture connected to the needle. At least a portion of the length of suture is wound around the spool. At least a portion of the length of suture is positioned within the helical channel. The suture may include a plurality of barbs.