Abstract: A suturing implement particularly useful in surgical operations for suturing a member, such as a prosthetic valve, to tissue at the suture site by a plurality of sutures each including a needle attached to at least one end. The implement comprises a manually grippable handle; pledget gripping members carried by the handle for gripping a plurality of pledgets each in a position to be pierced by a suture needle; and a releasing device carried by the handle for actuating the pledget gripping means to release the pledgets and the sutures applied thereto from the handle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument to aid in suturing a prosthetic valve into a heart annulus, comprises: a manually grippable handle, a holder carried at one end of the handle for releasably holding a prosthetic valve to be pre-loaded thereon, a first ring fixed to the handle and securing thereto one end of a plurality of sutures to be pre-loaded onto the handle with each suture carrying a needle at its opposite end passing through the prosthetic valve when pre-loaded on the handle; and a second ring fixed to the handle for releasably retaining the plurality of sutures each pre-loaded in folded condition on the handle and extending longitudinally thereof. The two rings are located on the handle such that each suture has a length between the prosthetic valve and the needle-carrying end of the suture which is at least twice the length of the suture between the secured one end and the prosthetic valve.