The problem of positioning one or more nerve ends inside a sheathing implant is solved by the use of a pulley and cinching systems that pull a nerve end into an implant and that can adjust the diameter of an implant to conform the implant to the diameter of the nerve, respectively. The pulley system utilizes a suture that traverses the wall of an implant leaving one end outside the implant wall and another end that can be attached to a nerve. Pulling the suture end outside the wall pulls the nerve attached to the other end of the suture into the bore of the implant. A cinching system utilizes specially arranged sutures within the wall of an implant to tighten or cinch up the wall after a nerve is placed therein, so as to conform at least part of the implant to the diameter of the nerve. Methods are also disclosed by which such pulley systems can be formed during an intraoperative procedure.

The present invention refers to a reusable meniscus suture device that comprising a handle for handling the device; a single-part needle comprising an elongated solid body which extends from the handle and a free end opposite the handle endowed with a cutting tip; and at least a portion of the elongated body gradually tapers in thickness towards the cutting tip, forming a portion of greater thickness in the region near the handle, and a portion of lesser thickness in the region near the tip, and wherein the portion of lesser thickness is malleable and curvable; and wherein the tip of the distal end has a lumen for the passage of the suture thread.

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. A bone engaging fastener is coupled to bone. A second fastener is coupled to a suture construction. The second fastener is coupled to the first fastener. Soft tissue is coupled to the suture construction.

A surgical suture module for a machine constructed and configured for automatic, continuous suturing for reduced or minimized scarring and reduced suturing time. A surgical suture module for continuous, subcuticular suturing. The module includes a generally circular needle with a needle shaft; a supply of thread; a thread guide; a hook with a hook shank, a holding arm mechanism; and a housing. The needle, rotationally movable between a first position and a second position, is configured to introduce the thread into a tissue. The hook is operable for hooking and lifting the thread in coordination with the needle and the holding arm mechanism is operable for pushing and catching the thread in automatic coordination with the hook. The needle, the hook, and the holding arm mechanism are held in position by the housing and the housing operable to attach to a power supply that provides power to the module.

A medical device includes a surgical needle attached to a mesh suture having anti-roping elements. The suture is constructed of a flat macroporous mesh wall that facilitates and allows tissue integration subsequent to introduction to the body, thereby preventing suture pull-through and improving biocompatibility. Advantageously, the anti-roping elements serve to maintain the desired construct of the flat mesh wall when undergoing axial tensile loads by resisting elongation and loss of outer mesh wall macroporosity.

Various devices, systems, and methods for anchoring sutures are provided In general, a suture anchor can include a groove formed in an exterior surface thereof and configured to seat a suture at least partially therein. The suture can be configured to automatically become seated in the groove during the advancement of the anchor into bone, such as by being rotated therein using a driver tool. The suture and the groove can have cooperating sizes such that the suture seated in the groove extends radially outward therefrom to be partially located outside of the anchor. This external portion of the suture can be press fit between the anchor and the bone, thereby securing both the anchor and the suture to the bone. This securing can occur as part of driving the anchor into bone.

A medical device of the present invention includes one or more anchors and an elongated member. Advantageously, the elongated member may be coupled to the anchors. The elongated member and anchors are configured to generate a force on a mesentery. The force is sufficient to retract a bowel of the patient into an upper portion of an abdominal cavity of the patient. When the patient is in a slightly angled position, the weight of the medical device pulls the mesentery into the upper abdomen. Since the bowel is connected to the mesentery, the device also indirectly pulls up the bowel. In some implementations of the device, a slight angle may be unnecessary. In others, the device may also inversely retract the mesentery and attached organs into the lower abdomen to facilitate surgical access to the upper abdomen. In some implementations of the device, a slight angle may be unnecessary.

An embodiment of the invention includes a sewing cuff for aortic heart valves that better approximates native anatomy by better mating with the crown-like anatomical annulus. Limiting distortion of the crown-like annulus provides better blood flow and overall valve function and provides a physician greater ease of implantation since native anatomy is not flattened. Thus, the surgeon may attach sutures to the fibrous tissue of the crown-like anatomical annulus without distorting the shape of the native anatomy. An embodiment includes a scalloped sewing cuff assembly (with semilunar arches) that tracks the crown-like annulus. Another embodiment provides a sewing cuff positioned over the majority of the valve's length, thus allowing the surgeon greater flexibility as to where he or she can attach sutures to the surgical annulus. Conventional valves, which are primarily “low-profile” devices, do not offer such ability. Other embodiments are described herein.

Exemplary methods and systems can be provided for resurfacing of skin that include formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 0.7 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus. Compressive and/or tensile forces can then be applied to the treated region of skin as the damage heals to facilitate hole closure, and provide enhanced and/or directional shrinkage of the treated skin area.

This fastening device comprises a bearing member intended to bear against the outer cortex of a bone and provided with a passage orifice, and a flexible connecting member configured to connect the ligament transplant to the bearing member. The connecting member comprises a tubular portion configured to extend through the passage orifice and can be deformed between a first state in which the tubular portion has a first inner diameter, and a second state in which the tubular portion has a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter. The connecting member also comprises a first and a second traction portions disposed respectively on either side of the tubular portion, the tubular portion being configured to be deformed towards the second state thereof when a traction is exerted on at least one of the first and second traction portions.