Abstract: A needle holder includes a shaft and a needle driver located at the distal end of the shaft. The needle driver is operable to rotate a needle such that the needle forms a non-perpendicular angle with a longitudinal axis of the shaft. In some versions, the needle driver includes a first arm and a rotatable assembly that is configured to longitudinally clamp about a portion of a needle. The rotatable assembly may include self-righting features to right the needle perpendicular to the first arm. The needle driver may further include a second arm that is pivotable relative to the first arm. The rotatable assembly may include a top member associated with the second arm and a bottom member associated with the first arm. In some versions, spring-loaded collets may secure the needle to a rotatable assembly. Alternatively, a pair of actuating arms may pivot the needle about a curved surface.

Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft, an end effector, and a grasping actuation assembly. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. The grasping actuation assembly is operable to drive one jaw of each pair in one direction while simultaneously driving the other jaw of the pair in an opposite direction, to selectively grasp or release the suture needle. The actuation assembly may include a drive shaft having separate threaded regions with opposing pitch. The end effector is further operable to pass the needle from one arm to the other arm during a suturing procedure. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of needle grasping arms. Each grasping arm extends along a respective arm axis. The grasping arms are operable to drive a suture needle along a rotational path about an axis, such as one of the arm axes, that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft. The rotational path may be perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. A needle driven by the end effector may have an arc radius that is greater than the radius of the shaft. At least one of the needle grasping arms may include a dogleg feature positioning a distal portion of the grasping arm outside the radius of the shaft. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: A surgical needle includes a pair of ends, a mid-region extending between the ends, and at least one grasping feature configured for grasping by a suturing instrument. An end of a suture is secured to the mid-region of the needle in a manner such that the end of the suture defines an oblique angle with at least part of the centerline defined by the mid-region of the needle. The end of the suture may be disposed in a hollow portion of the needle. The grasping feature may include a notch such as a scallop. The suture may be pivotally coupled with the needle via a ball or pin. The needle may have one or more sharp points. The sharp point may include three converging cutting edges, at least two planar surfaces bounded by the three cutting edges, and a rounded surface bounded by two of the three cutting edges.

Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to each other by, one, a retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue within the fasteners and, two, an alignment matrix configured to hold the fasteners together before the retention matrix is assembled thereto. In various embodiments, the retention matrix and the alignment matrix can each comprise a tissue-contacting surface configured to compress tissue therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument can comprise a handle and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise a first jaw comprising a first cartridge attachment portion and a second jaw comprising a second cartridge attachment portion, and wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw. The surgical fastening instrument can further comprise a first cartridge that is insertable into the first jaw and attachable to the first cartridge attachment portion and, in addition, a second cartridge that is insertable into the second jaw and attachable to the second cartridge attachment portion. In various embodiments, the first cartridge can comprise first fastener portions which are engageable with second fastener portions in the second cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to each other by a flexible retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue therebetween. The flexible retention matrix can comprise, one, a plurality of retention matrix elements configured to engage the fasteners and, two, a lattice of connectors which connect one or more retention matrix elements.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument can comprise, one, a handle comprising an actuator and, two, an end effector comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The end effector can further comprise a first jaw configured to support staples comprising staple legs and, in addition, a second jaw supporting a matrix element opposite the staples, wherein one of the jaws is movable toward the other in order to engage the matrix element with the staple legs. The stapling instrument can further comprise a cam operably coupled with the actuator, wherein the cam is movable along the longitudinal axis to deform the staple legs.

Abstract: A surgical fastening system can comprise a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener can comprise, one, a base and, two, a leg extending from the base, wherein each leg can comprise a tip. The fastener system can further comprise a retention matrix comprising a first side facing toward the bases of the fasteners, a second side facing away from the bases of the fasteners, and a plurality of retention members configured to engage the legs. The fastener system can further comprise a cover configured to cover the staple tips, wherein the cover can comprise a sheet of material and/or a plurality of caps.

Abstract: A surgical fastener system can comprise a plurality of fasteners which can be connected to one another by a retention matrix which is assembled to the fasteners in order to capture tissue therebetween. In various embodiments, each fastener can comprise a base and the distance in which the retention matrix is seated relative to the fastener bases can be selectively determined by a surgeon in order to apply a desired pressure to the tissue. In certain embodiments, each fastener can further comprise a fastener leg and the retention matrix can comprise a first layer configured to engage the fastener legs. The retention matrix can further comprise a second layer mounted to the first layer which can comprise one or more encapsulations containing a medicine therein. The encapsulations can be aligned with retention apertures in the retention matrix such that they can be punctured by the fastener legs.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a shaft, a needle throwing arm, and a needle receiving arm. The arms are movable asynchronously along planes that are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft. The arms selectively engage a surgical needle, such that the throwing arm may pass the surgical needle through tissue for receipt by the receiving arm, and the receiving arm may then pass the surgical needle back to the throwing arm for additional stitching. The arms may pivot about a common pivot. Such versions may include a single actuator for both arms or separate actuators for the arms. The arms may also pivot about their own respective axles, which may facilitate a forward reset motion for a needle, allowing the needle to continue travelling along a circular path in a single direction to create several stitches. The apparatus may also convert reciprocating movement of actuators into rotational motion.

Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, a method of producing satiety comprising the steps of accessing a gastrointestinal tract of a patient and implanting an intraintestinal therapeutic substance eluting implant. The implant is capable of eluting a satiety inducing substance selected from at least one of a nutrient, a specific satiety inducing bio-active substance, pancreatic polypeptides, free fatty acids, cholecystokinin, amino acids, glutamine, lipids, linoleic acid, or a combination thereof, from the implant into the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems, and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, the implantable system comprises a device delivering a therapeutic substance to a target location within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in order to initiate an intestinal braking effect which would promote sensations of satiety and stimulate excess weight loss for the patient.

Abstract: A method for regulating hormone production comprises placing at least one electrode in a gastrointestinal tract of a patient and recording an electrical signal during a preselected event produced by the gastrointestinal tract. The method further involves the steps of storing the electrical signal, and playing back the electrical signal by activating the electrode during the absence of the preselected event.

Abstract: Methods described herein involve introducing a nasogastric tube into a patient, connecting the nasogastric tube with a reservoir, anchoring the nasogastric tube with the nasal cavity, and introducing a substance into the reservoir through the nasogastric tube.

Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices may be accomplished via stabilized implantable systems and ingestible pills. In one aspect, a method of inducing satiety includes implanting an implant within a lumen of a gastrointestinal tract and retaining a portion of chyme that flows by the implant within a body of the implant. The method further involves re-releasing the retained chyme from the implant into the gastrointestinal tract at a predetermined rate slower than a rate caused by natural peristalsis.

Abstract: Methods and devices reroute chyme to induce intestinal brake in order to improve the effectiveness of bariatric surgical procedures and to improve comorbidity resolution. A bowel is manipulated to provide a shortened path for chyme to travel to the ileum. These methods and devices of rerouting chyme to induce intestinal brake may comprise one or more of a surgical procedure, an implanted device, or a combination of an implant with an improved surgical procedure.

Abstract: A fistula cleaning and repairing device comprises a device for cleaning a fistula and a device for repairing a fistula. Some versions of the device for cleaning a fistula comprise a rotary device with ah head configured to debride a fistula. Some versions of the device for cleaning comprise an abrasive catheter. Some versions of the device for cleaning comprise a plurality of abrasive beads. Some versions of the device for repairing a fistula comprise an implantable stent. Some versions of the device for repairing a fistula comprise an implantable mesh. Some versions of the device for repairing a fistula comprise a swab configured to deliver a medical fluid.

Abstract: A surgical device comprises a housing, a bioprocessing module, an end effector, and a pumping device. The bioprocessing module comprises media reservoirs, fluid conduits in communication with the reservoirs, and a port through which media is expelled. The end effector is configured for insertion into a lumen and delivering a tissue repair composition into that lumen. The end effector has at least one fluid conduit extending therethrough and at least one orifice in communication with the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit in the first end effector is in fluid communication with the port on the bioprocessing module. The pumping device is operable to urge a tissue repair composition comprising at least a portion of the contents of the media reservoirs through the fluid conduit of the first end effector such that the tissue repair composition is expelled from the at least one orifice.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe includes a barrel with a plunger slidably extending therein. The barrel may include a barrel adapter at one end to define a luer hub socket and the outer walls of slots in the barrel. The plunger includes an outer plunger element and an inner plunger element telescoping together with a bungee resisting extension of the assembly. The inner and outer plunger elements may be locked in the extended position with the bungee in tension. A seal stop is located at the seal end of the plunger to define an annular pinch therewith to hold an annular seal in radial extension sealing against the internal sidewall of the barrel. A luer hub is fixed at the needle end of the barrel, A plunger cap may be advanced after injection to rotate the plunger. A resistance lock retains the cap and plunger indexed until actuation.