abstract |
A system for inserting a surgical needle and stiff suture through tissue without risk of damage to the tissue and bending of the stiff suture. A surgical needle 14; a flexible suture 16 having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the flexible suture being attached to the surgical needle; A flexible suture; and a targeting suture having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the targeting suture 12 is secured to the proximal end of the flexible suture; A suture deployment system comprising: a target suture, wherein at least one of a flexible suture and a target suture contains a shape memory polymer. [Selection] Figure 1 |