A system for passing suture through biological tissue using a cannula, introducer or other minimally invasive means, to approximate, ligate, fixate, and/or close biological tissue. The system includes a hand actuator mechanism, an elongated tubular member housing a deformable tubular needle therein in operative communication with the hand actuator mechanism, and a jaw mechanism disposed on the tubular member distal end. The jaw mechanism having top and bottom members and a floating pivot mechanism, the top and bottom members in operative communication with the floating pivot mechanism. The floating pivot mechanism providing pivotal and axial articulation of the top member with respect to the bottom member.

A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.

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.

A surgical tool assembly includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, a first prong distal to and fixed relative to the shaft, and a second prong distal to and fixed relative to the shaft. A first anchor is disposed on the first prong, and a second anchor is disposed on the second prong. A first suture interconnects the first anchor and the second anchor.

A suture device is provided comprising an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and opposite proximal and distal ends. The distal end inserts into a wound and the proximal end operates the device. A suture needle connects with the elongate body at or near the distal end and is movable relative to the elongate body in longitudinal direction along a needle trajectory having a suturing space. A spreader connects with the elongate body at or near the distal end and engages tissue to be sutured adjacent the needle trajectory and provides a pulling force on the tissue to pull a portion of the tissue into the suturing space; and/or comprises a spring. The device is configured to urge at least a portion of the suture needle from a first position to a second position along a needle trajectory past a suturing space by a spring action of the spring.

In one embodiment, a suture attachment catheter configured to repair a heart valve by inserting a suture in a valve leaflet of a beating heart of a patient includes a handle control, a flexible catheter body, and a suture attachment assembly at a distal end of the catheter body. The suture attachment assembly can include a rail between a distal clamping jaw hingedly attached to the rail, and a proximal clamping jaw. One of the proximal clamping jaw or distal clamping jaw can be selectively slideable with respect to the other on the rail using a jaw actuator of the control handle to adjust a distance between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw. A needle can be selectively slideable within the catheter body by using a needle actuator of the proximal handle control to penetrate a valve leaflet and insert a suture through the valve leaflet when the valve leaflet is captured between the proximal clamping jaw and the distal clamping jaw.

A fibrous tissue repair device includes first and second tubular anchors having corresponding longitudinal passages. The tissue repair device includes corresponding first and second inserters. Each inserter has a shaft with a distal portion received in the longitudinal passage of the corresponding tubular anchor. A flexible strand couples the first and second anchors.

The present disclosure provides a heart valve repair method, comprising: advancing a distal end of a suture implanting apparatus from an outside of a body through a transapical approach into a left ventricle or a right ventricle of a heart; holding each leaflet of a heart valve with the distal end of the suture implanting apparatus; implanting at least one suture into the leaflet; withdrawing the suture implanting apparatus from the body; advancing a distal end of a suture locking apparatus from the outside of a body through a transapical approach into the corresponding left ventricle or the corresponding right ventricle; using the suture locking apparatus to lock the plurality of sutures; and withdrawing the suture locking apparatus from the body. The heart valve repair method has a simple surgical procedure, a low degree of patient trauma, and a high success rate of surgery.

A medical device includes a suture ring that defines an arcuate channel extending therein. A first arcuate needle passer is slidingly disposed within a first side of the arcuate channel and a second arcuate needle passer is slidingly disposed within a second side of the arcuate channel. A suture shuttle is passable between the first arcuate needle passer and the second arcuate needle passer and is configured to be releasably securable to the first arcuate needle passer and to the second arcuate needle passer.

A suture-material-handling device includes a suturing head having first and second jaw sections, which can move relative to each other, and a first needle element associated with the jaw sections and designed to perform a first piercing and thread bring-along operation of a first thread end of the thread in a closed relative position of the jaw sections. A second needle element associated with the suturing head can be actuated separately from the first needle element and is adjacent to the first needle element. The second needle element is designed to perform a second piercing and thread bring-along operation for the second thread end of the thread in the closed relative position of the jaw sections. The second thread end is opposite the first thread end, and in order to perform locally spaced apart and consecutive double piercing of a suture carrier, the second needle element is designed to perform a pivoting and/or curved motion that brings along the second thread end.