Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue including a handle assembly, an elongated housing removably mounted to said handle assembly and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, at least one needle carrier operatively mounted in the distal end portion and movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, and a needle releasably retained in the needle carrier member. The instrument may also include a retaining mechanism adapted to retain the at least one needle carrier in the partially deployed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and its method of use facilitate tying of a knot in a length of suture material at a remote surgical location. The instrument is comprised of a rod having a length of suture wrapped over the rod in a particular pattern. A needle is secured to a free end of the suture and the pattern of wrapping the suture on the rod enables loops of suture to move off the rod end and over the needle and suture to form a knot in the suture.

Abstract: A novel surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue including an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in the distal end portion and movable between at least a retracted position and a deployed position, a needle releasably retained in the at least one needle carrier member, a predetermined length of suture material having one end affixed to the needle, and a suture material tensioning member disposed within the elongated body for maintaining the suture material in tension during movement of the at least one needle carrier member from the retracted position to the deployed position the suture material. The instrument may also include a retaining mechanism adapted to retain the at least one needle carrier in the partially deployed position, and a needle skewing mechanism operatively associated with an actuator member to change the alignment thereof relative to the retaining member.

Abstract: An improved device and method for suturing penetrations and incisions through tissue into a body cavity. The device should find particular use in laparoscopic and other types of minimally invasive surgical procedures. A device according to the invention includes a shaft and an inverted needle joined to the shaft. Two ends of a length of suture material are attached at or near a sharpened proximal tip on the needle. The device may include a movable shield that is slidable to alternately cover and expose the sharpened tip of the needle. This shield may include a blunt distal end and an inclined proximal surface to assist the surgeon in guiding the hook into and out of the body cavity. The device may be provided with a visual and tactile indicator on one side of the device to assist the user in threading and removing the suture material into and out of a selected side of the hook.

Abstract: An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture fixation device or other appliance into tissue using a hollow cannulated grasper. Tissue at a repair site is secured with a hollow grasper. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The suture anchor or other appliance is attached to a device driver and installed through the hollow grasper into the repair site, where it is drilled into bone.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for elastic ring ligation of hemorrhoids and other anatomical features, by a solo-operator. The essence of the device is a double barreled endoscope comprising of an exterior barrel (4) and a closely fitting interior barrel (6) receivable within the exterior barrel. The construction of the endoscope enables the operator to insert the tool into a body orifice, single handedly, with the right or the left hand without adjustment of the instrument. The distal end of the interior barrel is loaded with a contractible elastic ring (10) aided by a loading mandrel (14). The instrument is placed inside the orifice, the obturator removed and accurate positioning brings the target area into view. The selected tissue is drawn into the interior barrel which functions as ligator. The operator can pull the flange like trigger of proximal end of the interior barrel which retracts the barrel, causing the elastic band to be released by the exterior barrel. The tool is easy to clean and sterilize.

Abstract: The suture anchor comprises a first main body (11) of a generally cylindrical shape having a front portion (1), a rear portion (2), a longitudinal axis (3), a curved surface (4) with protrusions (5), a central through-going bore (19) extending from said front portion (1) to said rear portion (2), and a longitudinal slit (12) which opens at said front portion (1) and curved surface (4) and is closed at said rear portion (2).It further comprises a second conical body (14) having a smaller base (15), a larger base (16), a curved surface (17) and a longitudinal axis (13), said second conical body (14) being coaxially introducible with its smaller base (15) into said slit (12) thereby causing expansion of said first main body (11). The second conical body (14) is provided with a through-hole (6) running transversely to said longitudinal axis (13) and two channels (7) positioned on said curved surface (17) and extending from the orifices (18) of said through-hole (6) to said smaller base (15).

Abstract: Directing to the difficulties involved in the deep rectal surgery, the present invention relates to a sutureless intestinal anatomosis gun which facilitates the rectal surgery to be performed by entering through the anus and protruding out from the upper end of rectum so as to install an anastomosis ring that has been connected to the intestine for anastomosis of the rectum, comprising a plurality of tubes, an anastomosis ring seat, a fixed shaft, a screw rod and a nut. During the operation of intestinal anastomosis, the inner sleeve and the anastomosis ring seat can be driven in sequence by means of the nut and the screw rod such that the end of the rectum is pushed precisely to enter into the gap of the anastomosis ring and then the anastomosis ring is precisely closed. Thereafter, the anastomosis ring seat and the anastomosis ring are disengaged and then the said anastomosis gun is removed to complete the intestinal anastomosis.

Abstract: A double needle ligature device for efficiently creating a loop suture for closing wounds, such as trocar wounds. The device preferrably includes a double rod-in-needle assembly to ensure that the suture is positively held in place during needle retraction.

Abstract: A suture passer including a stainless steel cylinder that has a rubber gasket at one end adapted to provide a seal through which laparoscopic forceps may be inserted. The suture passer further includes a thin stainless steel guide fastened to the other end of the cylinder and having a laterally extending eye through which a suture may be passed for use.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for suturing a perforation in a side wall of a patient's blood vessel. The apparatus includes an outer sheath having a longitudinal passage defined therethrough. The outer sheath is adapted to be inserted through the perforation in the patient's blood vessel. The apparatus includes at least a first suture point and at least a first suture thread attached to said first suture point. A carrier device is provided for carrying the first suture point in a distal direction through the longitudinal passage of the outer sheath into the patient's blood vessel and for pulling the first suture point in a proximal direction through the side wall of the patient's blood vessel. At least two such suture points and suture threads are preferably so attached to the patient's blood vessel and are then utilized to close the perforation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching surgical sutures to eyeless surgical needles. The apparatus includes a frame for positioning and maintaining the needle while the suture is being attached and a rotating die system which selectively impacts the needle to secure the suture thereto.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument for ligating multiple lesions within a hollow body organ. A flexible endoscope 10 is provided with channels 16-21 for accomodating means for illumination, viewing and application of suction and is also provided with a hollow tubular member 101 affixed to the insertion end of the endoscope. A plurality of cords 103 are laid over the tube 101 to extend longitudinally thereon and be folded over the distal end of the tube. The cords 103 are connected to one another at a common point by a connector 106 inside the tube 101. A plurality of elastic rings 50 are mounted on the tube 101 in stretched condition and overlaying the cords 103. The segment of each cord 103 between each pair of adjacent rings 50 is in slack condition and of a length which equals or exceeds the distance of the tube's distal end to the furthest ring of the pair.

Abstract: A tacker instrument for laparoscopic applications fits within a cannula and incorporates within a sleeve a positioning and driving system coupled to a tack holder mechanism at the distal end. The tack is held unexposed during entry but then may be extended to a predetermined position for embedment, with position being verifiable through the sleeve. Impact forces for embedding or removing the tack are applied to the positioning and driving mechanism, and the tack and tack holder are configured so that there is lateral disengagement or engagement of the two. In one version the mechanism is linear, while in a second version the distal end of the sleeve device can be angulated for perpendicular tack entry or removal with impelling forces being applied through a flexible shaft segment.

Abstract: A method and device for the placement of sutures and for the purpose of approximating tissue. A particular utility is effected in the approximation of the tissue separated by means of an endosurgical trocar being inserted into a body cavity. The invention provides for the loading of suture material including needles into the device, introduction and placement of the device into the body cavity, with the distal end having deployable needle guides, extending the needle guides either simultaneously or individually to the periphery of the wound, engaging the wound with the needle guides, driving the needles and suture material through the tissue to be approximated into a catch mechanism, retracting the needle guides and withdrawing the device, leaving a loop of suture material in the margin of tissue. The suture may then be tied to approximate the wound and excess suture material cut off.

Abstract: The invention provides an adjustable ligament anchor for attaching a ligament to a bone. The ligament anchor comprises a housing having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an intra-articular end and an opposite extra-articular end. The interior surface defines a bore that extends longitudinally through the housing, joining the ends. A member is dimensioned to be received within the bore and having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the ligament is attached to the first end. Adjusting means comprise a longitudinal chamber opening through the second end, and extending into at least a portion of the member. The chamber has threads and is dimensioned to receive a screw having a shaft with threads complimentary to threads in chamber.

Abstract: A novel surgical instrument suitable for insertion and assembly of surgical fasteners, such as multi-ring compression devices, for circular anastomosis of tubular or hollow organ tissue sections, including a body having means to support and align the rings, means for clamping the rings around the free ends of the tissue sections, means for coring away excess clamped tissue and the centers of the rings, separate means for releasing the clamped rings from the instrument and dwell means to delay releasing the rings until after the coring operation is complete. The dwell means consists of an external cup containing separate and coaxial elements for the coring means and the releasing means which are provided with a series of recesses and a plurality of shifter keys to separate the operation of coring from the separate operation of releasing the assembled multi-ring compression device from the instrument.

Abstract: An implantable device used in treating glaucoma includes a movable plate shaped and sized to fit in a single quadrant of an eye to provide maximum surface area. A drainage tube is attached to the plate and has a distal end for insertion into the anterior chamber of the eye to drain fluid. A valve is disposed in the tube to control the fluid pressure within the eye and prevent hypotony. The plate is made of soft surgical grade polymeric material to prevent extrusion from the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping and cutting viscera in abdominal or thoracic cavities has an elongated tubular support for two toothed jaws which are pivoted to one end of the support. The latter can receive a prefabricated carriage with two needles and a length of thread connected to the rear ends of the needles. A sleeve is employed to close the jaws or to permit the jaws to open under spring bias, and a handle is provided to move a piston which is reciprocable in the support to expel the needles from the carriage, through a plug at the front end of the support and through channels in the jaws whose teeth define a zig-zag shaped clearance for a selected portion of a viscus. The needles are thereupon extracted from the jaws into a body cavity whereby the thread forms stitches which connect mutually inclined parts of the clamped portion of a viscus to each other before the needles are detached from and the thread is tightened around the selected portion of the viscus.

Abstract: A system for the application of knots in surgical suture material consists of a pre-knotted surgical suture means (1) and a surgical knot applicator. The pre-knotted surgical suture means (1) has a sleeve (10) open at both ends (12, 13) and a surgical suture material (15) such as thread, cord, etc., which suture material is tied around the sleeve (10) to produce a pre-knotted displaceable knot (18) and has a free end (16). The surgical knot applicator contains a shaft, whose distal end-zone comprises an opening corresponding to the diameter of the sleeve (10). The sleeve (10) inserted with its proximal zone (12) into this opening is pulled back into the interior space of the shaft with a pulling-in device. The suture and the knot (18) are pulled tight by moving the free end (16) of the surgical suture material (15) guided through the sleeve (10) in proximal direction (arrow) with a pulling device.