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.

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.

A method of, and apparatus for, directing an elongate flexible component with a length through a part of a human body. The method includes the steps of: obtaining an apparatus having an elongate body with a length between axially spaced leading and trailing ends and a notch through a peripheral surface of the elongate body; directing a midlength part of the elongate flexible component into the notch to place the elongate flexible component into an operative position on the apparatus; and with the elongate flexible component in the operative position, advancing the elongate body through the part of the human body and thereby causing a portion of the elongate flexible component to be drawn by a drawing surface on the elongate body through the part of the human body.

A suture passer comprising: a shaft having an axis; a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon; a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft; and a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw; wherein the first jaw comprises a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw, and further wherein the spring comprises a recess for receiving the suture therein.

A suture passing device includes a jaw assembly that is moved to an open configuration after exiting a hollow needle distal tip and moved to a closed configuration when retracted into the needle tip. The jaw assembly may include a pair of jaw members biased to a default diverging configuration. A suture capturing mechanism formed on the jaw members securely captures suture to both push and pull the captured when the jaw assembly is retracted into the hollow distal tip. The jaw members have configurations of teeth that may be staggered axially and vertically.

A suture passer includes a shaft having an axis, a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon; a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft, and a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw, wherein the first jaw comprises a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw, and further wherein the spring comprises a recess for receiving the suture therein.

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 suturing apparatus comprises an invaginating device secured to a distal end of an endoscope for invaginating two parts of the interior of a wall of a vessel, for example, a stomach to be sutured together to form a gastric sleeve. The invaginating device includes a suction chamber for forming invaginated parts of the interior of the wall of the vessel. A suturing instrument extending through an instrument channel of the endoscope extends into the invaginating device, and is urged into or adjacent the suction chamber for inserting a suture into the invaginated part in the suction chamber. The next invaginated part is then formed, and the suture is inserted into it. The suture is then tightened to draw the two invaginated parts together.

Various embodiments of a cartridge are disclosed, for loading a suture onto a suturing instrument and, in some embodiments, for loading a pre-tied knot formed from the suture onto the suturing instrument. The suturing instrument is typically of the type having a suture passing member defining a suture receiving passage therein. The cartridge may be operable to load the suture and/or the knot onto the suturing instrument at a point of use. In some embodiments, the cartridge defines a path for insertion thereto and withdrawal therefrom of the suturing instrument. The cartridge further comprises a seat for releasably holding a portion of a suture and a mechanism for transferring the suture from seat to the suturing instrument, various features of which are described herein.

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.