Abstract: The present disclosure describes a suture passer device that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, a suture carrier secured to the handle and extending through the shaft, and a suturing head extending from the shaft and configured to retain tissue. The handle is operable to advance the suture carrier through the suturing head to pass a suture through tissue retained in the suturing head. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a quick-connect mechanism releasably connecting the shaft to the handle. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the shaft includes a first shaft and a second shaft pivotally coupled to the first shaft, and the first shaft defines a first channel for receiving the second shaft. Methods of disassembling the suture passer device are also described.

Abstract: Pattern matching technology is used to find locations in mask data that are available for later processes, such as marking. These locations are found using pattern definitions. A match algorithm outputs locations that match the pattern definitions. Each pattern definition may include multiple marks. The patterns can be symmetrical or asymmetrical and the marks can be correctly placed during a marking step by using orientation information determined during the pattern matching process. Large area geometries may be located by a two-step process that generates a pattern definition by defining smaller patterns therein and by defining the spatial relationships of the smaller patterns. An additional correlation step results in high accuracy while minimizing computing resources.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a suture passer device that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, a suture carrier secured to the handle and extending through the shaft, and a suturing head extending from the shaft and configured to retain tissue. The handle is operable to advance the suture carrier through the suturing head to pass a suture through tissue retained in the suturing head. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a quick-connect mechanism releasably connecting the shaft to the handle. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the shaft includes a first shaft and a second shaft pivotally coupled to the first shaft, and the first shaft defines a first channel for receiving the second shaft. Methods of disassembling the suture passer device are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a suture passer device that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a suturing head extending from the shaft and configured to engage tissue. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a tissue reinforcement member holder configured to retain a tissue reinforcement member relative to the suturing head. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a suture carrier secured to the handle and extending through the shaft, and the suturing head includes a first jaw and a second jaw. Methods of using a suture passer device to pass a suture through tissue and to attach soft tissue to bone are also described.

Abstract: Fractured mask data in variable shape beam format is verified. The fractured mask data and unfractured design data from which the fractured mask data was generated is received, as is at least one control parameter related to the fractured mask data. A filter algorithm is performed with the at least one control parameter as an input. The filter algorithm identifies at least one error in the fractured mask data as compared to the unfractured design data other than approximation differences resulting from a fracture algorithm used to generate the fractured mask data. The at least one error includes an edge shift in the fractured mask data as compared to the unfractured design data that is smaller than a defined value, such as the maximum skew value in certain examples.