A novel suture strand is herein disclosed. The suture strand includes a suture body, a hole, and multiple barbs. The hole is formed transversely through a first portion of the suture body. The barbs are coupled to a second portion of the suture body and are designed to allow the second portion of the suture body to pass through the hole in a first direction and prevent movement of the second portion of the suture body in an opposite, second direction.

In order to provide a means for fixing an end of a medical suture to skin tissue in a short time and thereby reduce an operation time, the present invention provides: a medical suture comprising a main body, which extends in the length direction, and a stopper, which is at one end of the main body and has a larger cross section than the main body; and a method for producing same.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a surgical soft tissue repair device includes a snare assembly coupled to a soft anchor in which the soft anchor has a first, unstressed configuration that can be used to insert the anchor into bone and a second, anchoring configuration that can be used to fixate the anchor in the bone. The snare assembly can be configured to actuate the anchor from the first configuration to the second configuration, and it can also be used to engage and approximate tissue by drawing the tissue closer to the anchor fixated in the bone. The snare assembly can be used in conjunction with a number of different anchor configurations, and other exemplary systems, devices, and methods for use with soft tissue repair are also provided.

An implantable cerclage sacrocolpopexy medical device includes an elongate strip of flat, flexible material extending longitudinally from a first end to an opposite second end; a surgical needle attached to the first end of the elongate strip; and a loop at either the first end or the second end of the elongate strip. The medical device is positioned circumferentially around the cervix. The end of the elongate strip opposite the end having the loop is passed through the loop and attached to the sacrum or sacrospinous ligament.

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.

An end effector for use with a surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge assembly movable relative to an anvil assembly. The staple cartridge assembly defines a plurality of retention slots and a cavity. The staple cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples, a plurality of pushers, an actuation sled, a surgical buttress material, a suture, and an anchoring button. The actuation sled is configured for movement along a length of the staple cartridge assembly to sequentially engage the plurality of pushers to eject the plurality of staples through the respective plurality of retention slots. The anchoring button is configured to be received in the cavity of the staple cartridge assembly such that a portion of the suture is supported in the cavity to be severed by a knife blade of the actuation sled when the actuation sled is advanced distally.

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.

The disclosed embodiments includes apparatuses, devices, and methods for treating a breathing disorder, comprising: inserting a first target oral stud into a first location of an anchor structure, the first target oral stud including a target stud shaft, a target anterior anchor, and a target posterior anchor, wherein the target stud shaft (or suture) is positioned within the tissue of the anchor structure. The embodiments further comprise inserting a first support oral stud into a first location of a support structure, the first support oral stud including a support stud shaft (or suture), a support anterior anchor, and a support posterior anchor, wherein the support stud shaft is positioned within tissue of the support structure. Further, the embodiments comprise connecting, using at least one first connector, the target anterior anchor with the support anterior anchor.

Self-retaining sutures having a first end for penetrating tissue and an elongated suture body comprising a plurality of intermittent apertures structured to enable formation of knotless suture loop closures that securely hold opposing tissue faces together due to the presence of the intermittent apertures through the suture that permit one-way passage of the suture body thus forming a self-retaining or self-engaging loop in the suture that does not slip backwards. Once a desired loop size is formed between tissue faces by pulling the suture through one of the intermittent apertures in the suture thread, the suture thread is clipped and a further loop is begun using the remainder of the suture thread affixed to the suture needle.

Components and associated methods of manufacture or assembly and/or use for bone and joint stabilization devices or systems are described. The components include features for device introduction, attaching a distal anchoring foot or threaded screw to an elongate spring-type member, anchoring head features for stabilizing position of the elongate member when engaged within the head and/or digital or electronic methods for tensioning the subject devices.