Abstract: A suture driver for clamping a suture in the hollow passage and a recessed channel thereof and manipulating the suture to and from a surgical site. The driver includes an outer member tube having a closed and pointed distal end for percutaneous introduction into the body of a patient. The outer tube also includes a recessed channel positioned proximal the closed distal end of the hollow passage extending longitudinally therein and for receiving the suture therein. An inner rod is positioned in the passage of the outer tube and has a clamping surface at the distal end thereof for engaging a suture positioned in the recessed channel. The inner rod is slid through the recessed channel to clamp the suture in the hollow passage of the outer tube against another clamping surface at the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: An appendix extractor includes a cannula (10) with two spaced apart guide members (12 and 14) and an appendix grasping line (16) threaded through each of the guide members (12 and 14). Finger loops (20, 28, and 30) allow for easy insertion into a hole in the patient's abdomen, movement of the appendix grasping assembly forward from the cannula (10), and enlargement and contraction of the appendix grasping region (26) of the appendix grasping line (16).