Patent ID: 9554793
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A device for suturing tissue comprising: a handle including a housing having a distal end and an opposite proximal end; a suturing needle for advancing a suture through the tissue, the suturing needle having a first pointed end and an opposite second end; a first needle gripper coupled to the housing, the first needle gripper being configured to both grasp and release the suturing needle; a second needle gripper coupled to the housing, the second needle gripper being configured to both grasp and release the suturing needle; and an actuator that is coupled to the housing and moves in a sweeping, non-linear motion relative to the housing, the actuator being operatively coupled to: (a) a first mechanism that pivots the second needle gripper between a fully extended position and a retracted position relative to the housing; and (b) a second mechanism that is operatively coupled to the first and second needle grippers and configured to alter a state of each of the first and second needle grippers to permit each respective needle gripper to either: (a) receive and grasp the suturing needle or (b) release the suturing needle.