Devices and methods for delivering sutures and implants

1. A medical device comprising:

a handle;

an elongated shaft member extending from the handle;

a needle carrier extending from a distal end of the elongated shaft member, the needle carrier including a channel configured to receive a needle that can be coupled to a suture or a portion of a pelvic floor repair implant;

a slideable mechanism comprising a knob member and an outer shaft, the outer shaft extending from the knob member, the knob member and the outer shaft being disposed coaxially over the elongated shaft member and being manipulatable by an operator of the device to slide along at least a portion of the length of the elongated shaft member; and

a needle catch configured to receive and retain the needle carried by the needle carrier,

wherein the slideable mechanism is configured to move the needle carrier along at least the portion of the length of the elongated shaft member while the needle catch remains stationary when the knob member is manipulated by the operator of the device.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the needle catch includes a first opening and a second opening, the needle catch being configured to receive the needle through the first opening and to retain the needle after the needle carrier is retracted, the needle catch being configured to release the needle through the second opening.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the needle carrier has a substantially C-shaped configuration.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the elongated shaft member is deflectable off of the longitudinal axis by manipulation by the operator of the device.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the needle catch is comprised of elastomeric materials and is integrally formed with the outer shaft.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the distance between the needle catch and the needle carrier defines an opening for receiving tissue of a patient's body.

7. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein the needle catch includes a sharpened tip for penetrating the tissue of the patient's body.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion of the elongated shaft member includes at least one detent.

9. The medical device of claim 8 wherein the at least one detent is configured to prevent movement of the knob member beyond the at least one detent.

10. A medical device comprising:

a handle;

an elongated shaft member extending from the handle, the elongated shaft member having a longitudinal axis, the elongated shaft member including a distal portion deflected off the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft member;

a needle carrier extending from a distal end of the distal portion of the elongated shaft member, the needle carrier including a channel configured to receive a needle that can be coupled to a suture or a portion of a pelvic floor repair implant;

a slideable mechanism comprising a knob member and an outer shaft, the outer shaft extending from the knob member, the knob member and a first portion of the outer shaft being configured to coaxially move over the elongated shaft member along the longitudinal axis, a second portion of the outer shaft being configured to move along the longitudinal axis such that the second portion of the outer shaft does not move coaxially over the elongated shaft member; and

a needle catch configured to receive and retain the needle carried by the needle carrier, the needle catch coupled to a distal end of the second portion of the outer shaft,

wherein the slideable mechanism is configured to move the needle catch relative to the needle carrier along the longitudinal axis when the knob member is manipulated by the operator of the device.

11. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the needle catch includes a first opening and a second opening, the needle catch being configured to receive the needle through the first opening and to retain the needle after the needle carrier is retracted, the needle catch being configured to release the needle through the second opening.

12. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the distal portion of the elongated shaft member is deflectable off of the longitudinal axis by manipulation by the operator of the device.

13. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the needle catch is comprised of elastomeric materials and is integrally formed with the outer shaft.

14. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the distance between the needle catch and the needle carrier defines an opening for receiving tissue of a patient's body.

15. The medical device of claim 10 wherein the proximal portion of the elongated shaft member includes at least one detent.

16. The medical device of claim 15 wherein the at least one detent is configured to prevent movement of the knob member beyond the at least one detent.

17. A method of delivering a suture or an implant, the method comprising:

providing a medical device, the medical device including a handle, an elongated shaft member extending from the handle, a needle carrier extending from a distal end of the elongated shaft member, a slideable mechanism including a knob member and an outer shaft extending from the knob member, and a needle catch coupled to a distal end portion of the outer shaft,

the needle carrier including a channel configured to receive a needle that can be coupled to a suture or a portion of a pelvic floor repair implant, the knob member and the outer shaft being partially disposed coaxially over the elongated shaft member such that a proximal end portion of the outer shaft moves coaxially over the elongated shaft member and the distal end portion of the outer shaft does not move coaxially over the elongated shaft member, the needle catch configured to receive and retain the needle carried by the needle carrier;

inserting the needle coupled to the suture or the portion of the pelvic floor repair implant into the needle carrier;

dissecting a patient's body to create an opening within the patient's body;

inserting the elongated shaft member and the needle carrier through the opening;

manipulating the needle carrier around a tissue portion within the opening; and

manipulating the slideable mechanism to move the needle catch relative to the needle carrier to cause the needle to be pushed through the tissue portion into the needle catch.