Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses for use in repair of a patient's tissue by connecting the tissue to the bone using a transosteal tunnel and anchor configured to pass through the transosteal tunnel. In particular, described herein are methods of repairing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn meniscal root. These anchoring apparatuses and method of using them are particularly well suited for use with the low-profile suture passers described herein, since these suture passers may allow access to previously inaccessible regions of the knee (or other body regions).

Abstract: Suture passers and methods of suturing tissue to prevent tissue bridging, without requiring a cannula. Tissue bridging involves the capture of non-target tissue within a loop of suture formed around and/or through a target tissue. The devices and methods described herein may include the use of a threading aperture at or near the distal end of the suture passer to guide the device in passing a suture through the tissue along the same pathway that another leg or legs of the loop took to access the target tissue, thereby preventing the inadvertent capture of non-target tissue leading to tissue bridging. In particular, described herein are suture passers and methods of arthroscopically suturing the meniscus of the knee while preventing tissue bridging.

Abstract: Suture passer devices, including suture passers configured with an axially slideable jaw that includes a tissue-penetrating distal end region. Also described are suture passers including jaws housing tissue penetrating needles to pass suture that are substantially thin. Methods of using such devices to pass a suture through tissue are provided.

Abstract: Described herein are suture passers that may be used for repair of the meniscus of the knee. These suture passers typically include an elongate body having a pair of arms. One or more of the arms may be radiused at the distal end region relative to the long axis of the device, to better fit between a target tissue and a body non-target tissue (e.g., the curvature of the femoral condyle). The arms may form a distal-facing opening that is configured to fit the target tissue. One arm may be movable in the axial direction (e.g., the direction of the long axis of the device), while the other arm may be bendable. A tissue penetrator may be housed within one of the arms to extend across the distal opening between the arms. Thus, a suture may be passed from a first side of the tissue to a second side.

Abstract: Suture passers and methods of suturing tissue to prevent tissue bridging, without requiring a cannula. Tissue bridging involves the capture of non-target tissue within a loop of suture formed around and/or through a target tissue. The devices and methods described herein may include the use of a threading aperture at or near the distal end of the suture passer to guide the device in passing a suture through the tissue along the same pathway that another leg or legs of the loop took to access the target tissue, thereby preventing the inadvertent capture of non-target tissue leading to tissue bridging. In particular, described herein are suture passers and methods of arthroscopically suturing the meniscus of the knee while preventing tissue bridging.

Abstract: Sutures with pre-tied knots for use in percutaneous surgical procedures. Described herein are pre-tied sutures and methods of using them that may be used with a suture passer for percutaneously suturing tissue, including percutaneously passing and securing a loop of suture around a tear in a meniscus tissue of the knee. A suture with a pre-tied knot may include a length of suture and a knot body on the length of suture, and a leader snare tied to the length of suture by the knot body. The leader snare typically has an opening loop (bight or snare) through which an end of the suture may be passed. The tail of the leader snare may be pulled to remove the leader snare for the knot body and draw the end of the suture through the knot body to close the knot, which can then be tightened to secure the tissue.

Abstract: Methods and devices are adapted for regulating fluid flow to and from a region of a patient's lung, such as to achieve a desired fluid flow dynamic to a lung region during respiration and/or to induce collapse in one or more lung regions. Pursuant to an exemplary procedure, an identified region of the lung is targeted for treatment. The targeted lung region is then bronchially isolated to regulate airflow into and/or out of the targeted lung region through one or more bronchial passageways that feed air to the targeted lung region.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is moveable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is movable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, such as into a delivery catheter. The assembly includes a funnel housing and a puller housing that mate with one another. The funnel housing defines a funnel-shaped loading cavity that receives a flow control device and that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction. The puller housing is removably attached to the funnel housing and is also removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity. The puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded size.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices are dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is moveable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Methods of suturing tissue using a dual deployment suture passer are also described.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is movable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device.

Abstract: Methods for repairing a meniscus, and particularly a torn meniscus. A method of repairing a meniscus may include using a suture passer to pass a suturing element from the region between the superior surface of the meniscus and the femoral condyle, through the meniscus tissue, into the region between the inferior surface of the meniscus and the tibial plateau, across the inferior surface of the meniscus, and back to the superior surface of the meniscus, without deeply penetrating the posterior capsular region of the knee. Equivalently, the suture element may be passed from the inferior surface of the meniscus to the superior surface and back to the inferior surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for lung volume reduction of a patient are described. The methods include implanting a flow control device in a bronchial passageway of the lung. The flow control device regulates fluid flow through the bronchial passageway and includes a valve protector that at least partially surrounds a valve member. The valve protector has sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the valve member against compression.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, such as into a delivery catheter. The assembly includes a funnel housing and a puller housing that mate with one another. The funnel housing defines a funnel-shaped loading cavity that receives a flow control device and that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction. The puller housing is removably attached to the funnel housing and is also removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity. The puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded size.

Abstract: Methods and systems for lung volume reduction of a patient are described. The methods include implanting a flow control device in a bronchial passageway of the lung. The flow control device regulates fluid flow through the bronchial passageway and includes a valve protector that at least partially surrounds a valve member. The valve protector has sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the valve member against compression.

Abstract: An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel includes spaced-apart arms, and an anvil connected to those arms, where that anvil has a blunt distal end. The anvil is insertable into the target vessel. One or more connectors, such as staples, may be deployed from each arm to connect the graft vessel to the target vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, such as into a delivery catheter. The assembly includes a funnel housing and a puller housing that mate with one another. The funnel housing defines a funnel-shaped loading cavity that receives a flow control device and that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction. The puller housing is removably attached to the funnel housing and is also removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity. The puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded state.

Abstract: A surgical tool may include a staple holding strip, and surgical staples frangibly connected to an edge of that staple holding strip.

Abstract: An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel includes an elongated anvil arm for insertion into the target vessel. The anvil arm includes a contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the wall of the target vessel. The anvil arm includes a channel through which a cutting element translates, and a opening that extends between the channel and the contact surface of the anvil arm. The cutting element is translated along the channel, and is controlled to extend through the opening and make an incision in the wall of the target vessel at a selected location. The incision is made at a location spaced apart from the penetration site at which the anvil arm is inserted into the target vessel, resulting in a tissue bridge between the incision and the penetration site.