Abstract: Disclosed is a novel slipknot for use as a suture knot in surgical procedures along with a simplified method for such knot's formation and a pre-formed suture system which provides a protoknot of the novel suture knot mounted on a tubular member or a knot tightener having a channel passing therethrough. The protoknot is formed into a completed suture knot by straight-line passage of the standing part of the filament, to which the surgical needle is initially attached, through the tubular member or the channel of the knot tightener and disengagement of same from the filament after passage of the filament through the patient's tissue.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in suture needle holders particularly useful in endoscopic surgical procedures. The instruments either incorporate a fixed suture needle or facilitate the secure, reversible grasping of a suture needle. Actuation of the instrument steadily directs the needle through the path of an arc thereby facilitating passage of the needle through tissue for suture placement. Actuation of the instruments involves simple opposed finger movement which obviates the often times difficult rotational wrist movement necessary for use of needle holders in the prior art.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel use of the capstan knot as a suture knot in surgical procedures along with a simplified method for such knot's formation, an apparatus for forming a protoknot of the capstan knot, and a pre-formed suture system which provides a capstan knot protoknot mounted on a knot tightener having a channel passing therethrough. The protoknot, once formed, is transformed into a completed capstan knot by straight-line passage of the standing part of the filament, to which a surgical needle is initially attached, through a defined path through the protoknot after passage of the filament through the patient's tissue.