A suture device comprises a needle (5) which is movable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration and a drive for rotating the needle between the retracted and extended configurations. The drive comprises an axle (18) which is rotated by a rack (12) and pinion (10) system.

Device and method embodiments discussed herein are directed to mechanical closure of an access passage in a tissue layer adjacent to an access hole in a vessel such as an artery or vein of a patient. Some of these embodiments may also be applicable to direct closure of a vessel wall in some instances.

A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

Device and method embodiments discussed herein are directed to mechanical closure of an access passage in a tissue layer adjacent to an access hole in a vessel such as an artery or vein of a patient. Some of these embodiments may also be applicable to direct closure of a vessel wall in some instances.

A suture includes an outer sheath with color marks and a background visually distinguishable from the color marks. Each color mark has exposed portions of at least two colored yarns of first and second different colors. The background includes exposed portions of background yarns of a background color. The background yarns and the colored yarns are braided to each other. The first and second colors are different from the background color. The color marks are arranged in at least one row along a longitudinal direction of the suture. Each color mark is longitudinally shifted with respect to a subsequent color mark in a same row by a first shift, and the exposed portions of the colored yarns of each color mark are substantially parallel to each other and arranged in a sequence along the longitudinal direction of the suture.

Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.