Abstract: A system includes a cannula that is configured to be inserted into a portion of a body and adjusted in length based on a depth measurement associated with the portion of the body; and an obturator having a handle and a shaft that can be moved relative to the handle to adjust a length of the obturator and a lock for locking the shaft in a plurality of positions relative to the handle, wherein the obturator is configured for receiving the cannula on the shaft and inserting the cannula into the portion of the body.

Abstract: A method for passing a suture through tissue includes extending a distal end of a suture retainer of a suture passer from a distal portion of a tube of the suture passer; locating a suture adjacent the suture retainer; retracting the suture retainer partially into the tube and retaining a suture between a retaining portion of the suture retainer and a first portion of a cutaway in a side of a wall defining the tube, wherein the first portion of the cutaway curves around a longitudinal axis of the distal portion of the tube and two longitudinally extending portions of the cutaway extend distally from the first portion to a distal end of the tube; and passing the distal portion of the suture passer with the retained suture through tissue.

Abstract: A method for passing a suture through tissue includes positioning a suture passer in a surgical cavity, the suture passer comprising a tube defined by a wall and a suture retainer received in the tube and configured to extend at least partially out of the tube; retaining a suture between a retaining surface of a cutaway in the tube and a proximally facing portion of a distal portion of the suture retainer such that the suture is retained against the retaining surface of the cutaway by the proximally facing portion of the distal portion of the suture retainer, wherein a distal end of the suture retainer is distal to the retaining surface of the cutaway and proximal to the distal end of the tube when the suture is retained against the retaining surface of the cutaway; and passing the suture passer with the retained suture through the tissue.

Abstract: A telescoping access cannula comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube carried by the outer tube, the inner tube being coaxial with the outer tube and longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube; and a rotatable member carried by the outer tube and connected to the inner tube, wherein rotation of the rotatable member causes longitudinal movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed herein for accessing the hip joint. A first device can be securely attached to the capsule of a joint. The first device can tent the capsule to increase the volume of the peripheral compartment. A second device can be biased against the first device to pierce the tented capsule and create a portal. Devices and methods are also disclosed herein for distending the capsule of a joint. A distention device may access a portal established within the capsule. The distention device can expand the capsule by applying an expansive force within the peripheral compartment. The distention device can maintain distention of the peripheral compartment while other devices access the joint.

Abstract: A method for creating space in a joint formed at the convergence of two bones, the method comprising: applying force to a body part so as to separate the two bones from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state, whereby to distract the joint and create an intrajoint space; inserting an assembly of three balloons into the intrajoint space while the assembly of three balloons is in a contracted condition; expanding the assembly of three balloons within the intrajoint space; and reducing the force applied to the body part so that the joint is supported on the assembly of three balloons, with the two bones remaining separated from one another by a distance which is greater than the distance that they are normally separated from one another when the joint is in a healthy state.

Abstract: A method for retaining a suture includes extending a distal end of a suture manipulator of a suture passer from a distal portion of a hollow tube of the suture passer, the distal portion of the suture manipulator forming a single arm so that only the single arm extends out of the distal end of the hollow tube when the suture manipulator is fully extended, locating a portion of a suture adjacent to a catching portion of the suture manipulator, and retracting the distal end of the suture manipulator into the hollow tube and pulling the portion of the suture into the hollow tube so that a loop of the suture is located in a lumen of the hollow tube and the portion of the suture is compressed by an inner surface of the hollow tube and a side surface of the catching portion.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed herein for accessing the hip joint. A first device can be securely attached to the capsule of a joint. The first device can tent the capsule to increase the volume of the peripheral compartment. A second device can be biased against the first device to pierce the tented capsule and create a portal. Devices and methods are also disclosed herein for distending the capsule of a joint. A distention device may access a portal established within the capsule. The distention device can expand the capsule by applying an expansive force within the peripheral compartment. The distention device can maintain distention of the peripheral compartment while other devices access the joint.

Abstract: A method for positioning a patient on a surgical table for a surgical procedure on a hip of the patient includes removably mounting a table extender to the surgical table in an operating room by releasably attaching mounts of the table extender to side rails of the surgical table, wherein the mounts are configured to mount the table extender in only one orientation with respect to the surgical table; and positioning the patient on the surgical table such that shoulders of the patient are supported by the surgical table and hips of the patient are supported by the table extender, wherein the table extender has a rectangular shape so that the hips of the patient are positioned entirely on the table extender.

Abstract: A method for passing a suture includes extending a distal end of a suture manipulator of a suture passer from a distal portion of a hollow tube of the suture passer, locating a portion of a suture adjacent to a catching portion of the suture manipulator, retracting the distal end of the suture manipulator into the hollow tube and pulling the portion of the suture into the hollow tube so that a loop of the suture is located in the lumen and the portion of the suture is compressed by an inner surface of the hollow tube and a side surface of the catching portion, and sliding the suture manipulator distally relative to the hollow tube and pushing the portion of the suture with a pushing portion of the suture manipulator that is located proximally of the catching portion to expel the suture from the hollow tube.

Abstract: An anatomical gripping system comprising: a binding comprising: a substantially rigid spine; a calf shell mounted to the substantially rigid spine; an anterior shell; and a clamping mechanism connecting the anterior shell to the calf shell; wherein the calf shell comprises a flexible portion configured to selectively engage the superior portion of the calcaneus bone of a patient; and further wherein when the clamping mechanism applies a force to the flexible portion of the calf shell, the flexible portion of the calf shell is drawn into engagement with the superior portion of the calcaneus bone of the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing an object to bone, the apparatus comprising: an anchor assembly comprising an anchor and an actuation element extending from the anchor, wherein applying a force to the actuation element when the anchor is disposed in a hole formed in a bone secures the anchor to the bone; and an inserter for deploying the anchor assembly in a hole formed in a bone, the inserter comprising: a shaft for releasably engaging the anchor; and a force delivery mechanism mounted to the shaft and connected to the actuation element, the force delivery mechanism being constructed so as to receive an input force from an external source and to selectively apply an output force to the actuation element, with the force delivery mechanism being constructed so that the magnitude of the output force is limited regardless of the magnitude of the input force.

Abstract: A telescoping access cannula comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube carried by the outer tube, the inner tube being coaxial with the outer tube and longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube; and a rotatable member carried by the outer tube and connected to the inner tube, wherein rotation of the rotatable member causes longitudinal movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing an object to bone, the apparatus including an anchor assembly comprising an anchor and an actuation element extending from the anchor, wherein applying a force to the actuation element when the anchor is disposed in a hole formed in a bone secures the anchor to the bone; and an inserter for deploying the anchor assembly in a hole formed in a bone, the inserter including a shaft for releasably engaging the anchor; and a force delivery mechanism mounted to the shaft and connected to the actuation element, the force delivery mechanism being constructed so as to receive an input force from an external source and to selectively apply an output force to the actuation element, with the force delivery mechanism being constructed so that the magnitude of the output force is limited regardless of the magnitude of the input force.

Abstract: An anatomical gripping system comprising: a binding comprising: a substantially rigid spine; a calf shell mounted to the substantially rigid spine; an anterior shell; and a clamping mechanism connecting the anterior shell to the calf shell; wherein the calf shell comprises a flexible portion configured to selectively engage the superior portion of the calcaneus bone of a patient; and further wherein when the clamping mechanism applies a force to the flexible portion of the calf shell, the flexible portion of the calf shell is drawn into engagement with the superior portion of the calcaneus bone of the patient.

Abstract: A telescoping access cannula comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube carried by the outer tube, the inner tube being coaxial with the outer tube and longitudinally movable relative to the outer tube; and a rotatable member carried by the outer tube and connected to the inner tube, wherein rotation of the rotatable member causes longitudinal movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube.

Abstract: A method for passing a suture through tissue includes positioning a suture passer in a surgical cavity, the suture passer comprising a tube defined by a wall and a suture retainer received in the tube and configured to extend at least partially out of the tube; retaining a suture between a retaining surface of a cutaway in the tube and a proximally facing portion of a distal portion of the suture retainer such that the suture is retained against the retaining surface of the cutaway by the proximally facing portion of the distal portion of the suture retainer, wherein a distal end of the suture retainer is distal to the retaining surface of the cutaway and proximal to the distal end of the tube when the suture is retained against the retaining surface of the cutaway; and passing the suture passer with the retained suture through the tissue.

Abstract: A method for passing a suture through tissue includes extending a distal end of a suture retainer of a suture passer from a distal portion of a tube of the suture passer; locating a suture adjacent the suture retainer; retracting the suture retainer partially into the tube and retaining a suture between a retaining portion of the suture retainer and a first portion of a cutaway in a side of a wall defining the tube, wherein the first portion of the cutaway curves around a longitudinal axis of the distal portion of the tube and two longitudinally extending portions of the cutaway extend distally from the first portion to a distal end of the tube; and passing the distal portion of the suture passer with the retained suture through tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising: an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the lumen comprising a distal section and a proximal section, the distal section of the lumen having a wider diameter than the proximal section of the lumen; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body and communicating with the lumen, the window being disposed in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal section of the lumen and the proximal section of the lumen and being sized to receive a first object therein; an elongated element extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the elongated element comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section of the lumen; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a second object, and a first object extends through the windo

Abstract: A suture passer comprising: a hollow tube, the hollow tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end; and a clamping rod slidably received in the lumen of the hollow tube, the clamping rod comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being bifurcated into a first arm and a second arm, one of the first and second arms extending distally of the other of the first and second arms and including a clamping surface; wherein at least one of the first arm and the second arm comprises a friction-enhancing surface for facilitating manipulation of a suture via engagement of the suture with the friction-enhancing surface.