Introduction of a new double-looped suture.

Two new sutures are introduced for laparoscopic two-handed instrument suturing and knot tying, as well as a device for making them. In the first design, a nonslipping loop is placed at each end of a straight suture; they act as anchoring devices to maintain the suture in the two-dimensional plane of focus of the laparoscopic camera. The loops provide a large surface area that facilitates grasping the suture during the rotational and pulling maneuvers employed in instrument knot tying. The double-looped suture can be used for tying off and retracting tubular structures. The second design consists of a suture ligature with a curved or straight needle at one end and a single, non-slipping loop at the other. Illustrations demonstrate tying and suturing techniques for approximating tissue with the new sutures. A device consisting of two pairs of posts, for making the looped suture in a uniform fashion, is also discussed.