Abstract: A suture assembly configured to load a suture instrument with suture includes a cap attached to an end of the suture, a suture container configured to retain a portion of the suture, and a cap retainer having a wall and a suture channel formed in the wall. The suture channel is configured to receive a length of the suture, and the wall is configured to deny passage of the cap into the suture channel and align the cap with the length of the suture for loading into the suture instrument.

Abstract: A suture fixation system includes a suture assembly having an anchor, an introducer, and a delivery device. The introducer is attachable to a finger of a person and includes a platform attached to an exterior of the introducer and a zip line attached to the platform. The delivery device is movable along the zip line and configured to removably retain the anchor. The introducer allows the finger to identify a target landmark within a patient and the delivery device is movable along the zip line and attachable to the platform to position the anchor for insertion to the target landmark.

Abstract: An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) system includes a cuff, a pump, and a single tube that provides the system with an inflatable storage compartment. The single tube is connected between the cuff and the pump and includes a first lumen communicating between the cuff and the pump and a separate second lumen communicating between the cuff and the pump. The cuff is inflatable with a cuff volume of liquid that is sized to selectively close the urethra for treatment of urinary incontinence. The pump is operable to move the cuff volume of liquid out of the cuff to provide the cuff with a deflated state that allows the urethra to open and pass urine. The second lumen has a storage compartment sized to retain the cuff volume of liquid.

Abstract: An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) system includes a cuff, a pump, and a conduit attachable between the cuff and the pump. The cuff is integrated to include a first compartment and a storage compartment. The first compartment is configured to contact the urethra and the storage compartment communicates with the first compartment. The pump is operable to move the liquid between the first compartment and the storage compartment. The cuff is a pressurizable reservoir that is sized to be placed around a urethra of a user and configured to coapt the urethra in treating urinary incontinence.

Abstract: A suturing assembly is provided that is configured to pull a capsule attached to a suture through tissue. The suturing assembly includes a shaft aligned on a longitudinal axis of the suturing assembly, and a head coupled to the shaft. The head includes a proximal portion and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The proximal portion houses a needle that is movable through a needle exit port. The proximal portion of the head and the needle exit port are both aligned on the longitudinal axis. A proximal side of the distal end of the head defines a cavity adapted to receive the capsule and a distal side of the distal end of the head defines a slot adapted to allow the suture to pass through the distal end of the head and into the cavity.

Abstract: A method of fixing a suture to tissue of a patient includes placing an introducer onto a finger, the introducer including a zip line trailing from a proximal end of the introducer. The method additionally includes identifying a landmark with the finger, guiding a delivery device along the zip line toward the introducer, where the delivery device maintaining an anchor attached to a suture line, and ejecting the anchor from the delivery device and into the tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence includes making an incision and exposing tissue of a urethra. The method additionally includes inserting a non-porous sheet into the incision and forming a cuff around the urethra with the non-porous sheet by directing a first end of the non-porous sheet through a slot formed in a second end of the non-porous sheet. The method additionally includes directing an extending member that is attached to the non-porous sheet to a location exterior of a pelvis. The method further includes configuring the cuff to tighten around the urethra when pulling on the first end of the non-porous sheet, and configuring the cuff to be loosely positioned around the urethra when pulling on the extending member.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a non-porous sling located between two anchors. A first line is attached between a first end of the sling and the first anchor, and a second line is attached to a second end of the sling and inserted through a channel of the second anchor. The second anchor is provided with a restrictor segment provided in the channel. The second line has an adjustment device attached to the second line and the restrictor segment is configured to resist movement of the adjustment device through the channel. The adjustment device is movable through the channel from a first position that locates the adjustment device between the second anchor and the sling to a second position that locates the second anchor between the adjustment device and the sling to thereby reduce an effective length of the sling between the first and second anchors.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a band attached to a pendant. The band is implantable around a portion of a urethra and has a first magnet connected to a first end portion of the band and a second magnet connected to a second end portion of the band. The pendant is connected to and extends from the band. The pendant has a shape that configures the pendant to be implantable into a scrotum and a thickness that configures the pendant to be implantable into a labia. The pendant encloses a switch and a power source that are electrically coupled to the first magnet and the second magnet. The switch has an on position to constrict the band around the urethra and an off position in which substantially zero current is provided to decouple the first magnet from the second magnet.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a non-porous sub-urethral sling provided with an adjustment device. The device includes first and second anchors coupled to the sling. The second anchor includes a channel formed through the second anchor and a restrictor segment provided in the channel. The adjustment device is movable through the channel formed through the second anchor. The resistor segment is configured to resist movement of the adjustment device through the channel.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a band, magnets, and a power source. The band has a length extending between a first end and a second end. A first magnet is connected to a first end portion of the band and a second magnet is connected to a second end portion of the band. The band is implantable around a urethra and configured to constrict a lumen of the urethra when the first magnet is coupled to the second magnet. The power source is electrically coupled to the first and second magnets and configured to electromagnetically couple and decouple the first magnet relative to the second magnet.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence in a patient includes implanting in the patient a device having a band, two magnets, and a power source; placing the band around a urethra; and implanting the power source outside of a pelvis. The power source is operable to electromagnetically couple the two magnets thus constricting a lumen of the urethra.

Abstract: A suture system spool is configured to retain suture having a suture diameter and tension the suture between a distal and proximal end portions of a suturing tool. The spool includes a monolithically formed disc defining a central opening that provides the disc with an inside diameter. The disc includes a base and a flap joined with the base at the inside diameter, and the flap extends from the inside diameter to an outer periphery of the disc to define a cavity between the flap and the base. The flap is spaced away from the base at a location between the inside diameter and the outer periphery of the disc by a factor of at least two times the suture diameter, and the flap is spaced away from the base at the outer periphery of the disc by a distance that is approximately equal to the suture diameter.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a non-porous sub-urethral sling provided with an adjustment device. The device includes first and second anchors coupled to the sling. The second anchor includes a channel formed through the second anchor and a restrictor segment provided in the channel. The adjustment device is movable through the channel formed through the second anchor. The resistor segment is configured to resist movement of the adjustment device through the channel.

Abstract: A suture system includes a tool and a suture assembly. The tool includes a head having a proximal portion housing a needle and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The needle is movable through a needle exit port formed in the proximal portion of the head to a cavity formed in the distal end of the head. The suture assembly includes a length of suture connected to a tubular leader. The tubular leader includes an annular wall extending between an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a clasp having a first portion disposed between the interior surface and the exterior surface of the annular wall and a second portion extending out of the annular wall and adapted to secure the suture against the annular wall.

Abstract: An incontinence treatment device includes a non-porous support and an extending member. The non-porous support has a first end portion provided with a slot and a second end portion. The second end portion is insertable through the slot to form a cuff that is configured for placement around a urethra of a user. The extending member is attached to the support at a junction located between the first end portion and the second end portion. Tension applied to the second end portion is adapted to draw the junction toward the slot to tighten the cuff and thus provide the user with a continent state. Tension applied to the extending member is adapted to draw the juncture away from the slot and expand the cuff and thus allow the user to urinate.

Abstract: A method of treating urinary incontinence includes making an incision and exposing tissue of a urethra. The method additionally includes inserting a non-porous sheet into the incision and forming a cuff around the urethra with the non-porous sheet by directing a first end of the non-porous sheet through a slot formed in a second end of the non-porous sheet. The method additionally includes directing an extending member that is attached to the non-porous sheet to a location exterior of a pelvis. The method further includes configuring the cuff to tighten around the urethra when pulling on the first end of the non-porous sheet, and configuring the cuff to be loosely positioned around the urethra when pulling on the extending member.

Abstract: A suturing assembly is provided that is configured to pull a capsule attached to a suture through tissue. The suturing assembly includes a shaft aligned on a longitudinal axis of the suturing assembly, and a head coupled to the shaft. The head includes a proximal portion and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The proximal portion houses a needle that is movable through a needle exit port. The proximal portion of the head and the needle exit port are both aligned on the longitudinal axis. A proximal side of the distal end of the head defines a cavity adapted to receive the capsule and a distal side of the distal end of the head defines a slot adapted to allow the suture to pass through the distal end of the head and into the cavity.

Abstract: A suturing assembly is provided that is configured to pull a capsule attached to a suture through tissue. The suturing assembly includes a shaft aligned on a longitudinal axis of the suturing assembly, and a head coupled to the shaft. The head includes a proximal portion and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The proximal portion houses a needle that is movable through a needle exit port. The proximal portion of the head and the needle exit port are both aligned on the longitudinal axis. A proximal side of the distal end of the head defines a cavity adapted to receive the capsule and a distal side of the distal end of the head defines a slot adapted to allow the suture to pass through the distal end of the head and into the cavity.

Abstract: A method of suturing tissue includes engaging tissue with a suturing head, driving a needle from a proximal end portion of the suturing head through the tissue, and engaging a capsule disposed in a distal end portion of the suturing head with the needle, the capsule comprising a length of suture attached thereto.