Systems, devices, and methods for soft tissue repair are generally provided and they generally involve the use of surgical filaments that are configured in a variety of manners to minimize and/or eliminate the tying of knots during a surgical procedure. Moreover, systems and devices described herein can provide for a reversible locking knot, which allows for additional tension to be applied to the repair if adjustments are required after the construct has been locked. The reversible locking knot can be “flipped” or actuated without requiring the knot to be untied and then retied. Further, systems and devices described herein can additionally be used to associate implantable bodies and suture constructs within a bone to secure soft tissue while not restricting the relative movements of operative sutures once the implantable body has been deployed.

Systems and methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are described. A system can include a variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, including a suture having a first thickness dimension; an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the transition zones having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension.

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 knotless tissue repair assembly for attachment of tissue to bone includes an anchoring implant with a length of suture threaded therethrough. The implant is preferably a soft flexible three-dimensional structure. The implant may be actuated from a first elongate low profile shape into a second short radially expanded shape having a larger diameter than the hole through which it was placed. The suture extends through the anchor, through a tissue to be secured, and back through a designated suture-binding region or passageway within the anchor enabling the suture to be secured therein and without the need for a physician to tie a knot. Further tension applied to a suture leg approximates the tissue to the anchor until a desired tension or distance between the tissue and anchor is achieved.

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.

Methods of use for bone and joint stabilization devices are described in which the devices are tensioned after anchoring during a medical procedure and remain active in maintaining axial tension for continued compression of the subject anatomy.

Systems, devices, and methods for soft tissue repair are generally provided and they generally involve the use of surgical filaments that are configured in a variety of manners to minimize and/or eliminate the tying of knots during a surgical procedure. Moreover, systems and devices described herein can provide for a reversible locking knot, which allows for additional tension to be applied to the repair if adjustments are required after the construct has been locked. The reversible locking knot can be “flipped” or actuated without requiring the knot to be untied and then retied. Further, systems and devices described herein can additionally be used to associate implantable bodies and suture constructs within a bone to secure soft tissue while not restricting the relative movements of operative sutures once the implantable body has been deployed.

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.

The disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, devices, and methods for treating a breathing disorder. The method comprises creating an anchor hole at a location within or subjacent to a mandible bone, and positioning an elastic elongate member through the anchor hole, the elongate member having first and second ends at an entrance of the anchor hole and a loop in a region of a pharynx. The method further comprises connecting a retractor member at or near an end of the loop of the elastic elongate member in a region of the tongue, and connecting an anchor member at or near the ends of the elastic elongate member at the entrance of the anchor hole. In the method, at least one of the elastic elongate member, the retractor member, and the anchor member interact to distribute a force on the tongue and the force prevents obstruction of an airway.

A knotless tissue repair assembly for attachment of tissue to bone includes an anchoring implant with a length of suture threaded therethrough. The implant is preferably a soft flexible three-dimensional structure. The implant may be actuated from a first elongate low profile shape into a second short radially expanded shape having a larger diameter than the hole through which it was placed. The suture extends through the anchor, through a tissue to be secured, and back through a designated suture-binding region or passageway within the anchor enabling the suture to be secured therein and without the need for a physician to tie a knot. Further tension applied to a suture leg approximates the tissue to the anchor until a desired tension or distance between the tissue and anchor is achieved.