Patent ID: 9730688
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical suturing device, comprising: a) a cartridge having a curved needle and suture, the curved needle having a pointed end and a second end, the suture being connected to the needle proximate the second end of the needle, the needle being defined by a toroidal surface, the needle and cartridge cooperating to facilitate travel of the needle in a forward direction along a circular needle track defined in the cartridge and across a tissue receiving gap defined by the cartridge, wherein the pointed end of the needle leads the needle when the needle is moving in the forward direction, and further wherein the pointed end of the needle is positioned within the cartridge after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about a rotational axis in the forward direction by a needle drive; b) an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; c) an actuator connected to the proximal end of the elongate shaft; d) a receiver connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft, the receiver including a clip adapted to releasably receive and retain the cartridge.