A suture securing device having a plurality of zones includes a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. The device includes a lower layer extending across each of the first zone, the second zone and the third zone, an upper layer disposed in the first zone and the second zone, and an insert having at least one eyelet disposed in the first zone, the insert being sandwiched between the upper layer and the lower layer.

This invention relates to devices that join a pair of edges. Previously, suture assemblies used holes perpendicular to a vertical plane. Embodiments of the present invention use a first pad tunnel (130) between a first pad lower plane opening (126) and a first pad upper plane opening (122). A first pad tunnel major axis (132) passes through a first pad upper plane opening center (124) and a first pad lower plane opening center (128). For reference a first pad orthogonal axis (134) passes through the first pad upper plane opening center (124) orthogonal to the first pad upper plane (118) and the first pad lower plane (120). A first pad angle (θ1) is measured clockwise from the first pad orthogonal axis (134) to the first pad tunnel major axis (132). The first pad angle is at least five degrees but no more than 175 degrees.

A distal end of a guide catheter is transvascularly advanced into a left ventricle of a heart of a subject. While the distal end of the guide catheter remains disposed in the left ventricle, a first tissue anchor of an implant is deployed from the distal end of the guide catheter. Subsequently, the guide catheter is retracted while progressively exposing the implant. Subsequently, a second tissue anchor of the implant is anchored to a posterior annulus of a mitral valve of the heart by deploying at least part of the second anchor within a left atrium of the heart, such that the implant extends from the first tissue anchor, over an atrial side of a posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and to the second tissue anchor. Other embodiments are also described.

A tissue defect closure system includes an endoscopic surgical fixation device and an implant. The endoscopic surgical fixation device includes a handle assembly and an elongated outer tube having a distal end and including a plurality of fasteners disposed therein. The implant includes an elongated hollow body having a proximal end and a distal end, and defines an elongated pocket therein. The elongated pocket is dimensioned to engage the elongated outer tube of the endoscopic surgical fixation device.

A medical instrument, comprising a flexible strap portion having a proximal end and a distal end; a head portion distally extending from and connected to the distal end of the strap portion; and a tail portion proximally extending from and connected to the proximal end of the strap portion; wherein the head portion and the strap portion have a locking feature that allows the strap portion to be tightened to the head portion at a desired position, a loop having a desired size composed of a distal end side part of the strap portion and the head portion can be formed when tightened by the locking feature, and a plurality of features for keeping connected to thread are along the longitudinal direction on at least the distal end side part of the strap portion that forms the loop.

The invention comprises a system, method, and apparatus for securing two ends of a ruptured or partially ruptured tendon in the hand or wrist during a repair, recession, or revision procedure. During this tenorrhaphy, anchoring material is inserted into the proximal ruptured surface of the tendon by an apparatus comprising multiple needles of at least two different types. Connecting material spans the site of tenorrhaphy of a ruptured tendon, or a multiplicity of ruptured tendons. In some embodiments, interlocking patterns of loop and helical suture are inserted by straight and helical needles, respectively.

This invention relates to devices that join a pair of edges. Previously, suture assemblies used holes perpendicular to a vertical plane. Embodiments of the present invention use a first pad tunnel (130) between a first pad lower plane opening (126) and a first pad upper plane opening (122). A first pad tunnel major axis (132) passes through a first pad upper plane opening center (124) and a first pad lower plane opening center (128). For reference a first pad orthogonal axis (134) passes through the first pad upper plane opening center (124) orthogonal to the first pad upper plane (118) and the first pad lower plane (120). A first pad angle (θ1) is measured clockwise from the first pad orthogonal axis (134) to the first pad tunnel major axis (132). The first pad angle is at least five degrees but no more than 175 degrees.

A repair suture consists of a strand of suture material formed into a continuous loop. One end of the loop may be thicker than the other. The repair suture may be part of a suture assembly including the repair suture, a linking suture having a looped end and a straight end, and a suture anchor. The suture anchor may have a suture bridge that divides the cross-sectional area of the interior of the anchor into two unequal sections. The suture assembly may be used to create luggage tag configurations for repairing tissue or for attaching tissue to bone. In a double-row method with medial row compression, loose suture ends from the medial row are inserted into a lateral row anchor having a proximal anchor body, a distal tip, and internal locking elements for locking the distal tip to the proximal anchor body.

A method of closing a wound includes providing a first bridging portion comprising a first insert having at least one first eyelet, and a first upper layer of material at least partially disposed over the first insert, and a first lower layer of material disposed below the first insert, the first lower layer of material having an adhesive disposed on a first lower surface, wherein the first insert, the first upper layer and the first lower layer form three zones of different elasticity and stiffness than others of the zones.