Suture needle devices and suture attachment methods

A medical device, comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis extending between first and second ends of the hollow cylindrical body, the hollow cylindrical body including an opening extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a first end portion disposed at the first end of the hollow cylindrical body, the first end portion comprising:
• a first sharp tip configured to pierce tissue and a first inner-facing surface disposed opposite the first sharp tip;
• and
• a first extension extending from the first inner-facing surface of the first end portion;
• wherein the first extension includes a first extension portion extending longitudinally from the first inner-facing surface toward a first end of the first extension and a second extension portion extending longitudinally from the first inner-facing surface toward the first end of the first extension, wherein, the device is configured such that in an at-rest position of the first end portion without a suture within the first end portion, a free end of the first extension portion does not contact a free end of the second extension portion;
• and
• wherein the medical device has a first configuration with the first end portion outside the hollow cylindrical body and having a first outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the opening of the hollow cylindrical body, and a second configuration with the first end portion within a lumen extending through the hollow cylindrical body and having a second outer diameter fitting within the inner diameter of the opening of the hollow cylindrical body and clamping the suture between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.

A medical device, comprising:

• a hollow cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis extending between first and second ends of the hollow cylindrical body, the hollow cylindrical body including an opening extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, between the first and second ends, and through a side of the hollow cylindrical body, wherein a body lumen extends within the hollow cylindrical body along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a first end portion disposed at the first end of the hollow cylindrical body;
• wherein:
• the first end portion includes a first extension extending from an inner-facing surface of the first end portion and insertable into the body lumen extending through the hollow cylindrical body;
• the first extension includes first and second extension portions extending longitudinally from the inner-facing surface of the first end portion toward a first end of the first extension with the first extension portion spaced from the second extension portion to define:
• (1) a first gap between first edges of the first extension portion and the second extension portion, (2) a second gap opposite to the first gap and between second edges of the first extension portion and the second extension portion, and (3) an extension lumen between inner surfaces of the first extension portion and the second extension portion, for receipt of a suture;
• the device is configured such that in an at-rest position of the first end portion without the suture in the extension lumen, a free end of the first edge of the first extension portion does not contact a free end of the first edge of the second extension portion;
• and
• the medical device has a first configuration with the first end portion outside the hollow cylindrical body and having a first outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the opening of the hollow cylindrical body, and a second configuration with the first end portion within the body lumen of the hollow cylindrical body and having a second outer diameter fitting within the inner diameter of the opening of the hollow cylindrical body and clamping the suture between the first extension portion and the second extension portion to hold the suture with respect to the first end portion and the hollow cylindrical body.