A suture made of a woven braid of fibers is provided. The suture includes: at least one first end; at least one second end comprising a colorable material wherein the second end has been colored a single color along an entire length of the second end; and at least one third end comprising a colorable material wherein only a portion of the third end is colored a continuous color. In another embodiment, a method of manufacture of a suture is provided. The method includes: braiding an elongate suture from a first end, a second end comprising a colorable material, and a third end comprising a colorable material; coloring the second end a single first color along an entire length of the second end; coloring only a first portion of the third end a second color.

A barbed suture including a body with barbs on the periphery, a pointed end, and an anchor at one end to resist movement of the suture in the direction of the pointed end is provided. One or more limbs on the anchor may be provided, which may be arcuate, of varying lengths, and of varying distribution about the periphery of the suture body. Other anchor designs are provided. Methods of placing single-directional and bi-directional barbed sutures to approximate the tissue on each side of a wound and to position and support tissue in the absence of a wound, as in cosmetic surgery, are provided, and may include terminal J-stitches or S-stitches. Methods of placement may be made with sharp, pointed ends, which may be needles, or insertion devices. Sinusoidal patterns of sutures that have amplitudes generally perpendicular to the resultant holding force of the suture are provided.

A wound closure device for closing a surgical wound in a tissue, wherein the wound closure device includes a first jaw, a second jaw and a handle. The first jaw is arranged for receiving a first cartridge including a plurality of slots for holding wound closers and wherein the second jaw is provided with a plurality of tracks. The plurality of tracks guide a respective one of the male ends and a respective one of the female ends towards each other and to an interlocked state where the respective one of the male ends and the respective one of the female ends are interlocked with each other.

Various devices, systems, and methods for anchoring sutures are provided In general, a suture anchor can include a groove formed in an exterior surface thereof and configured to seat a suture at least partially therein. The suture can be configured to automatically become seated in the groove during the advancement of the anchor into bone, such as by being rotated therein using a driver tool. The suture and the groove can have cooperating sizes such that the suture seated in the groove extends radially outward therefrom to be partially located outside of the anchor. This external portion of the suture can be press fit between the anchor and the bone, thereby securing both the anchor and the suture to the bone. This securing can occur as part of driving the anchor into bone.

There is disclosed a medical probe for traversing a tract in the body of a human or animal. One medical probe is disclosed which comprises an elongate elastically deformable member comprising a helically wound element, and a sheath having an inner surface which contacts an outer surface of the elastically deformable member. The probe is elastically deformable, for traversing the tract, by virtue of the elastically deformable member. The probe may include a treatment element, which can be used to perform a procedure in the body of a patient. An assembly comprising a probe and a treatment element is also disclosed. The medical probe has a particular use in the treatment of a fistula, in which the probe takes the form of a fistula probe adapted to traverse a fistula tract.

The present invention provides methods and devices for grasping, and optional repositioning and fixation of the valve leaflets to treat cardiac valve regurgitation, particularly mitral valve regurgitation. Such grasping will typically be atraumatic providing a number of benefits. For example, atraumatic grasping may allow repositioning of the devices relative to the leaflets and repositioning of the leaflets themselves without damage to the leaflets. However, in some cases it may be necessary or desired to include grasping which pierces or otherwise permanently affects the leaflets. In some of these cases, the grasping step includes fixation.

An apparatus for making surgical braids comprises a plurality of bobbin carrier assemblies. An active track engages at least some of the bobbin carrier assemblies. A passive track arranged to selectively engage at least one of the bobbin assemblies, and a gate positioned between the active track and the passive track. The gate defines an inter-track path and an intra-track path. The gate has an open position wherein the inter-track path is aligned between the active and passive tracks. The gate further has a closed position wherein the intra-track path is aligned with the active track.

A system for making surgical braids. The apparatus comprises a braiding machine. The braiding machine comprises a plurality of horn gears and a plurality of bobbin carrier assemblies engaging the plurality of horn gears. A cutting machine is arranged to receive a continuous braid directly from the braiding machine. The cutting machine has a cutter. The braiding machine and cutting machine define a continuous path extending from the bobbin carrier assemblies and through at least a portion of the cutting machine.

A method of making a cut braid. The method comprises moving a plurality of bobbins around an endless track in a braiding machine; braiding a plurality of strands from the bobbins into a braid; passing the braid through a take-up mechanism; moving the braid along a continuous path, the continuous path extending from the braiding machine, through a take-up mechanism, and at least partially through a cutting machine; and cutting the braid in the cutting machine to form a cut braid.

A method of making a surgical braid. The method comprises moving a plurality of bobbins along an active track, the active track being an endless track; and selectively moving a bobbin to a passive track while continuing to move the remaining bobbins along the active track.