Patent ID: 9572566
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An apparatus for manipulating a suture, the apparatus comprising: a flexible needle having a longitudinal axis comprising: a proximal end; a distal end comprising a first tip shaped to define a suture capture feature that releasably captures the suture to enable the needle to urge the suture to or from a desired location within a body; and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends, the intermediate portion comprising a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to a length extending along the longitudinal axis of the needle, wherein the cross-sectional shape is non-rectangular, non-circular, and concave to provide increased rigidity with a reduced profile; and an actuator comprising a user control that can be activated to urge the needle to move distally relative to the actuator and to move the first tip to pierce the tissue.