Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a needle pusher and an actuator mechanism. The cannula includes a needle compartment defining a needle-receiving passage terminating at a distal opening of the cannula and a notch extending from the distal opening into the cannula. The needle pusher includes a wire provided in the cannula. The actuator mechanism operably connects with the needle pusher such that actuation of the actuator mechanism results in movement of the wire within the cannula toward the distal opening.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a needle pusher, an actuator mechanism and a brace. The cannula includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes a more proximal section, a needle compartment and a curved section. The more proximal section is located nearest the proximal portion of the cannula. The needle compartment defines a needle passage terminating in a terminal opening. The curved section is located between the needle compartment and the more proximal section. The needle pusher is provided at least in the distal portion. The actuator mechanism is operably connected with the needle pusher. The brace is on the distal portion connected with and spanning between the needle compartment and the more proximal section.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a distal end assembly removably connected to the cannula, a needle pusher provided in the cannula and extending into the distal end assembly when the distal end assembly is connected with the cannula, a primer movable between an extended position and a depressed position, and a spring positioned between the primer and the needle pusher. The distal end assembly includes a needle compartment defining a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. Movement of the primer from the extended position toward the depressed position compresses the spring to exert a biasing force on the needle pusher in an advance direction when the primer is in the depressed position. The primer is operatively connected with the needle pusher such that movement of the primer from the depressed position toward the extended position moves the needle pusher in a retract direction.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a needle pusher, a shuttle, a primer, a spring, and a button. The cannula includes a needle compartment defining a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. The needle pusher is provided in the cannula. The shuttle connects with the needle pusher. Movement of the shuttle results in movement of the needle pusher. The spring is positioned between and connected with the primer and the shuttle. Movement of the primer from an extended position toward a depressed position compresses the spring to exert a biasing force on the shuttle in an advance direction. Movement of the primer from the depressed position toward the extended position results in the spring pulling the shuttle in a retract direction. The spring biases the shuttle in the advance direction after the button is depressed, which pushes the needle pusher in the advance direction.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a needle pusher, a shuttle, a primer, a spring, and a button. The cannula includes a needle compartment defining a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. The needle pusher is provided in the cannula. The shuttle connects with the needle pusher. Movement of the shuttle results in movement of the needle pusher. The spring is positioned between and connected with the primer and the shuttle. Movement of the primer from an extended position toward a depressed position compresses the spring to exert a biasing force on the shuttle in an advance direction. Movement of the primer from the depressed position toward the extended position results in the spring pulling the shuttle in a retract direction. The spring biases the shuttle in the advance direction after the button is depressed, which pushes the needle pusher in the advance direction.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a distal end assembly removably connected to the cannula, a needle pusher provided in the cannula and extending into the distal end assembly when the distal end assembly is connected with the cannula, a primer movable between an extended position and a depressed position, and a spring positioned between the primer and the needle pusher. The distal end assembly includes a needle compartment defining a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. Movement of the primer from the extended position toward the depressed position compresses the spring to exert a biasing force on the needle pusher in an advance direction when the primer is in the depressed position. The primer is operatively connected with the needle pusher such that movement of the primer from the depressed position toward the extended position moves the needle pusher in a retract direction.

Abstract: A suturing device is provided including a cannula, a needle pusher, a plunger, a spring, a shuttle, a button and a tether. The cannula includes a needle compartment defining a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. The needle pusher is provided in the cannula. Movement of the plunger from the extended position toward the depressed position compresses the spring. The spring exerts a biasing force on the shuttle in the advance direction when the plunger is in the depressed position. The button operably engages with the shuttle, and the spring biases the shuttle in the advance direction after the button is depressed, which pushes the needle pusher in the advance direction. The tether connects the plunger with the shuttle.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a cannula, a needle pusher, an actuator mechanism and a brace. The cannula includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes a more proximal section, a needle compartment and a curved section. The more proximal section is located nearest the proximal portion of the cannula. The needle compartment defines a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. The curved section is located between the needle compartment and the more proximal section. The needle pusher is provided at least in the distal portion. The actuator mechanism is operably connected with the needle pusher. The brace is on the distal portion connected with and spanning between the needle compartment and the more proximal section.

Abstract: A suturing device is provided including a cannula, a needle pusher, a plunger, a spring, a shuttle, a button and a tether. The cannula includes a needle compartment defining a needle passage terminating in a distal opening. The needle pusher is provided in the cannula. Movement of the plunger from the extended position toward the depressed position compresses the spring. The spring exerts a biasing force on the shuttle in the advance direction when the plunger is in the depressed position. The button operably engages with the shuttle, and the spring biases the shuttle in the advance direction after the button is depressed, which pushes the needle pusher in the advance direction. The tether connects the plunger with the shuttle.

Abstract: A suturing kit includes a suture and a suture holder for holding the suture. The suture has a first end and a second, opposite, end. The suture holder includes an elongated wall defining a suture receiving passage that is elongated along a longitudinal axis and terminates at a suture exit opening. The suture receiving passage has a width at least twice the diameter of the suture and receives the suture such that the suture is folded over forming a half loop section spaced from the suture exit opening. A first second of the suture extends from the half loop section toward the first end and a second section of the suture extends from the half loop section towards the second end. The first section and the second section of the suture within the suture receiving passage are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

Abstract: An illuminated garment includes a base layer having knitted looped threads that hold in position a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fibers are laid into the base layer during the same knitting cycle as the base layer and are configured to emit light through the respective sides of the optical fibers and along the length of each optical fiber in response to receiving light from a light source through at least one end of the respective optical fibers.

Abstract: An article of footwear is configured to be worn so as to at least partially cover a wearer's foot. The footwear includes at least one optical fiber on an internal surface of the footwear. The at least one optical fiber is configured to project radiation having a therapeutic wavelength through the at least one optical fiber and toward at least one of the wearer's foot, ankle or leg when the footwear is being worn so as to at least partially cover the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A garment includes a fabric base layer and at least one side-emitting optical fiber retained to or integrated with the fabric base layer. The fabric base layer can stretch in the grain and cross grain direction of the fabric base layer. The at least one side-emitting optical fiber is located in at least one light-emitting zone to be located over a targeted body area of the person wearing the garment, and is configured to receive light from a light source and in the at least one light-emitting zone is configured to project light having a therapeutic wavelength toward the targeted body area.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, an actuator, and a curved needle holder. The elongate body includes a distal end portion extending along a longitudinal axis. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from the distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a curved needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. A distance measured parallel with the longitudinal axis between where the curved needle holder begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis to either where the elongate body begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis or where the elongate body connects with a handle can be between about 10 cm to about 20 cm.

Abstract: An illuminated garment includes a base layer having knitted looped threads that hold in position a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fibers are laid into the base layer during the same knitting cycle as the base layer and are configured to emit light through the respective sides of the optical fibers and along the length of each optical fiber in response to receiving light from a light source through at least one end of the respective optical fibers.

Abstract: A suturing kit includes a double-armed suture, at least one suturing device and a suture holding structure. The double-armed suture has a first needle at a first end and a second needle at a second, opposite, end. The at least one suturing device includes a first needle holder configured to receive the first needle in a retracted position, a second needle holder configured to receive the second needle in a retracted position and at least one actuator configured to drive the first needle or the second needle in an advance direction toward a released condition. The suture holding structure holds at least a portion of the suture between the first end and the second end, and the suture holding structure is separate from the at least one suturing device so as not to be inserted into the patient during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a needle holder. The suture connects with the needle. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. At least a portion of the suture extends through the distal opening when the needle is received in the needle passage and the actuator is in a first operating position. At least a portion of the suture extends along the needle passage toward the distal opening between the needle and an inner surface of the needle holder when the needle is received in the needle passage and the actuator is in the first operating position.