Abstract: Described here are devices for closing one or more tissues, and handles for controlling these devices. Generally, the devices described here comprise a snare loop assembly, wherein the snare loop assembly comprises a snare and a suture loop, and a handle for controlling the snare loop assembly. In some variations the snare loop assembly may comprise a retention member that may releasably connect the suture loop to the snare. In other variations the devices comprise one or more force-reducing suture locks to help prevent the suture loop from inadvertently disengaging from the snare loop assembly. In still other variations, the excess-suture management features. The handles described here may be configured to remove excess suture from a suture loop, and may also be configured to release the suture loop from the snare loop assembly.

Abstract: A contactless linear position sensor, or potentiometer, which has a linear output characteristic, is constructed with a pair of elongated, hollow cylindrical tubes which are made of magnetically saturable material and are aligned so that their axes form an angle of less than 180.degree., with both of said tubes having at least one conductive wire coupled therewith which is interconnected with the wire that is coupled with the other tube, and a moveable permanent magnet which is formed as a segment of a circular ring with a pair of straight sides that move adjacent to the tubes so that the total volume of the tubes that is magnetically saturated remains substantially constant while the inductance ratio of the tubes varies.