The present disclosure describes surgical anchors and related devices and methods that can be used for surgical bone fracture fixation. Some implementations use a polymeric cored braided suture held in place by anchors on each side of a fracture. In some implementations, the anchors are secured into bone while maintaining high tension (e.g., relative to certain prior art methods) in the suture during the deployment process. Some implementations provide for tensioning (e.g., using a polymeric cored braided suture) to compress the fracture and hold the bone in place, functioning as though the suture has sewn the bone (e.g., fragments or portions) together. This can, for example, provide rigid fixation of a fracture which may be important for healing to occur. The tension preload can provide compression to maintain fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone (e.g., as a result of movement and weight bearing).

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.

Delivery systems, methods and associated devices for management of an elongate element having sections with differing mechanical properties, in particular, for management of a loop of suture-wire element extending proximally from a delivery catheter for deployment of a heart implant. Such management devices can include an inner feature (e.g. outward facing groove or series of tabs) along an inner circle about which a suture can be coiled and an outer feature (e.g. inward facing groove or tabs) to engage and constrain a wire section having increased stiffness within a coil having a larger diameter than the coiled suture. Such devices can be provided separately or can be integrated within a handle of the delivery catheter. Methods of loading suture-wire management devices and utilizing such devices during deployment of an implantable anchor are also described herein.

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.

An endoscopic tissue grasper device includes a flexible tubular member, a flexible shaft extending through the tubular member, a proximal handle for moving the shaft and tubular member relative to each other, and a distal helical coil having a sharpened end for engaging tissue. The tissue grasper is advanced through a working channel of an endoscope, engaged relative to tissue, and retracted to pull tissue into a path of a movable needle coupled at a distal end of the endoscope so that the needle can be passed through the tissue. The needle is preferably provided with a suture so that as the needle is passed through the tissue a stitch is formed.

A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.

An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to receive a guide suture that is severed during a stapling procedure. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly and a suture guide assembly secured to the anvil assembly.

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.

An endoscopic tissue grasper device includes a flexible tubular member, a flexible shaft extending through the tubular member, a proximal handle for moving the shaft and tubular member relative to each other, and a distal helical coil having a sharpened end for engaging tissue. The tissue grasper is advanced through a working channel of an endoscope, engaged relative to tissue, and retracted to pull tissue into a path of a movable needle coupled at a distal end of the endoscope so that the needle can be passed through the tissue. The needle is preferably provided with a suture so that as the needle is passed through the tissue a stitch is formed.

A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.