A device for suturing an incision in an artery has a handle, a supply of suture stored on spindle housed in the handle, a tube extending from the handle having a lumen through which suture extends, and a curved needle at a distal end of the handle, the curved needle having an opening through which a free end of the suture extends. A method for suturing an incision in an artery includes creating sequential openings in first and second flaps of the incision, with loops of suture extending through openings in one flap, with a free end of suture extending through the second flap being pulled through the loops and secured to another free end of suture extending through the first flap, to close the incision.

A needle reload device includes a loading assembly including a needle holder pulley and a needle release arm. The needle holder pulley includes a base including first and second portions configured to receive a needle. The needle release arm is transitionable between an engaged state, in which the needle release arm engages the needle holder pulley to inhibit rotation of the needle holder pulley, and a disengaged state, in which the needle release arm is disengaged from the needle holder pulley such that the needle holder pulley is rotatable. When the needle release arm is in the engaged state, the first portion of the needle holder pulley is positioned between jaws of a stitching device, and when the needle release arm is in the disengage state, the second portion of the base of the needle holder pulley is positioned between the jaws.

Provided is a system, a device, a cassette for use therein and method for suturing two tissue sections, for example two sections of a tissue, by using a plurality of consecutively-arranged anchoring units.

A multi-barrel drill guide with an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated distal guide tube attached to and extending from the distal end of the elongated body, and a handle extending from the elongated body between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongated body has a first channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end and a second channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end at an angle relative to the first channel. The first channel and the second channel intersect at a convergence area at the distal end. A drill bit is movable in a slidable manner within the second channel, and a driver loaded with a suture anchor is movable in a slidable manner within the first channel.

There is provided a product comprising a suture thread which, prior to being used to form a surgical suture, is in a stressed state which gives the suture thread a tendency to undergo lengthwise viscoelastic contraction. The suture thread undergoes viscoelastic contraction when in use as a surgical suture and this may promote wound healing to a greater extent than a conventional suture thread which does not undergo viscoelastic contraction.

A suture package for retaining a barbed suture is provided. The suture package includes a suture retaining member including an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall is radially spaced from the outer wall and defines a suture retaining area therebetween. The inner wall defines a needle retaining area and includes at least one opening therein to permit reception of at least one suture therethrough. The outer wall includes a plurality of inwardly extending tabs configured to engage a cover. The suture package further includes a cover configured to be received within the outer wall of the suture retaining member and to selectively engage the inwardly extending tabs formed thereon.

There is provided a product comprising a suture thread which, prior to being used to form a surgical suture, is in a stressed state which gives the suture thread a tendency to undergo lengthwise viscoelastic contraction. The suture thread undergoes viscoelastic contraction when in use as a surgical suture and this may promote wound healing to a greater extent than a conventional suture thread which does not undergo viscoelastic contraction.

An anchor and suture assembly is provided for use with an endoscopic suturing device with a needle holder arm. The anchor assembly includes an anchor tip and an anchor body. The anchor tip has a blunt end that may be rounded or beaded, a capture groove, a tab groove and a plug portion positioned between the capture groove and the tab groove. The anchor body has first and second ends, tip tabs, retainers for removably retaining the anchor body relative to the needle holder arm, and a suture opening. The anchor tip is fixed relative to the anchor body by plastic deformation of the tip tabs into the tab groove. A suture extends into the suture opening of the anchor body and is fixed therein.

A device for suturing an incision in an artery has a handle, a supply of suture stored on spindle housed in the handle, a tube extending from the handle having a lumen through which suture extends, and a curved needle at a distal end of the handle, the curved needle having an opening through which a free end of the suture extends. A method for suturing an incision in an artery includes creating sequential openings in first and second flaps of the incision, with loops of suture extending through openings in one flap, with a free end of suture extending through the second flap being pulled through the loops and secured to another free end of suture extending through the first flap, to close the incision.

A multi-barrel drill guide with an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated distal guide tube attached to and extending from the distal end of the elongated body, and a handle extending from the elongated body between the proximal end and the distal end. The elongated body has a first channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end and a second channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end at an angle relative to the first channel. The first channel and the second channel intersect at a convergence area at the distal end. A drill bit is movable in a slidable manner within the second channel, and a driver loaded with a suture anchor is movable in a slidable manner within the first channel.