A suture passing instrument for manipulating and passing suture through a tissue is disclosed. 5 The instrument includes a handle, an elongate shaft extending from the handle, a hook movably disposed within the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft includes a distal portion having an open end. The hook is movable from a retracted configuration in which at least a portion the hook is situated within the elongate shaft, and a deployed configuration in which the hook extends distally from the open end. The hook is operatively coupled to an actuator of the handle via a 10 coupling member and the hook is moved from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration be applying tension to the coupling member.

Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.

Disclosed are devices and methods for delivering several sutures accurately and simultaneously around the perimeter of an annular prosthetic device (prosthetic heart valve, annuloplasty ring, etc.) to secure the prosthetic device within a native heart valve region. Devices can comprise a proximal handle portion including an actuator and a distal suturing portion including several curved and straight needles arrayed around the shaft axis. The straight needles and the curved needles are configured to simultaneously guide a plurality of sutures through the native tissue and through the annular prosthetic device. The actuator can cause the straight needles to move axially relative to the curved needles and can also cause the curved needles to rotate, such that the motions are coordinated to simultaneously place all the sutures.

Systems, devices, and methods for providing access to the heart. The system includes an intracardiac access device comprising an elongate member having a channel extending between a distal end and a proximal end thereof. The intracardiac access device is configured to be advanced through an extrapericardial penetration in the left atrial wall without penetrating the pericardium of the heart. An optional procedural device is configured to be advanced through the channel of the intracardiac access device into an internal chamber of the heart and configured to perform a surgical procedure in the internal chamber of the heart. A working channel of an optional suprasternal access device is configured to facilitate access of the intracardiac access device into the body of the patient by providing a path from a suprasternal opening to a position adjacent the roof of the left atrium.

The disclosure relates generally to devices and methods for treating a tissue defect, for example, by suturing. In some embodiments, a suturing device may include an elongate member having a working channel, a suture channel, and a suture arm extending from the elongate member. The suturing device may further include a needle passer located within the working channel, the needle passer operable to deliver a needle between the elongate member and a distal end of the suture arm for suturing a target tissue, and a suture extending through the suture channel, wherein the suture is coupled to the needle. The suturing device may further include a plurality of imaging devices, wherein a first imaging device is positioned along a distal face of the elongate member, and wherein a second imaging device is positioned along the suture arm.

The present invention describes systems and methods for treating mitral valve regurgitation. The treatment includes a systems and method of modifying the mitral valve by attaching a device to each leaflet and pulling them toward each other to stop mitral valve regurgitation.

An articulating suture hook for passing or retrieving suture. The suture hook having a handle with a proximal end and distal end. A stiffening tube is fixed to the distal end of the handle extending distally from the handle. A flexible outer tube is fixed to the stiffening tube and extends distally therefrom. A cut portion of the flexible outer tube has a plurality of cuts positioned therealong. In a first configuration, the flexible outer tube extends parallel to or in alignment with the stiffening tube, but in a second configuration, the flexible outer tube is curved at the cut portion. The plurality of cuts may be arranged into two patterns. Each cut arranged in a first pattern is offset at an angle from each cut arranged in a second pattern. The pattern, shape, and size of the cuts determines the movement of the flexible outer tube to the second configuration.

An endoscope device including an endoscope body, a suture device, and a needle. The endoscope body has a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite each other and includes a working channel. The suture device includes a first arm and a second arm opposite each other. The working channel connects the proximal portion and the distal portion. The first arm and the second arm extend toward a distal direction. At least one of the first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected to the distal portion and can be opened or closed with respect to the other. The operation method thereof is also provided.

A minimally invasive device and method for suturing papillary muscles includes drawing a suture through a first papillary muscle using a needle, drawing the suture through a second papillary muscle, and tightening the suture to move at least one of the first papillary muscle and the second papillary muscle towards the other of the first papillary muscle and the second papillary muscle.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for suturing tissue is provided that includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end. A suturing head is coupled to the distal end of the body, including a first set of curved needles, a second set of curved needles, and a plurality of sutures. A first end of a suture is coupled to one of the curved needles of the first set. A second end of the suture is coupled to one of the curved needles of the second set. The curved needles of the first set are oppositely oriented to the curved needles of the second set. The suturing head can be positioned between two substantially parallel sections of tissue. An actuator is coupled to the body to deploy the first and second sets of curved needles.