Wound closure apparatus

Abstract: Apparatus for suturing a wound in a body cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is disposed at the proximal end and a pair of needles disposed at the distal end, the needles being movable between a proximal position and a distal position. A suture manipulator carried by the cannula is insertable through the wound and operable to manipulate the suture into an engaging relationship with the needles on the far side of the body wall. In one embodiment of the invention, a finger ring is movable on the handle in a single distal direction through multiple stages. In a first stage the needles are deployed; in a second stage, the suture manipulator is activated to thread the needles; and in a third stage the suture is released from a tensioning mechanism. In another embodiment, the finger ring is movable in a distal direction to deploy and thread the needles, and movable in a proximal direction to tension the suture and withdraw the needles. In an associated method the needles are threaded on the far side of the body wall and withdrawn from the wound providing access to the suture ends on the near side of the body wall. Tying the suture ends closes the wound.

Description: Description for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, LI, DK, FI, GR, IE, LU, MC, PT, SE This invention relates generally to an apparatus for closing a wound or hole in a body wall, and more specifically to wound closure devices using suture material. A puncture-type wound in a body wall can be created either unintentionally, or intentionally as part of a surgical procedure. In either case, the wound typically has the configuration of a hole extending through the body wall where access to the far side of the wall is available only through the wound. The wound in the body wall may be accidentally created but it is more likely that it will be intentionally created in a surgical procedure associated with interventional cardiology, for example. Surgical procedures involving interventional cardiology commonly produce a wound in the femoral or iliac artery of the patient. In this case, the body wall in which the wound is formed is the wall of the artery which is disposed some distance beneath the skin of the patient. When these arteries are punctured, wounds or holes are left in the tissue wall forming the arteries. Currently, large caliber access sheaths and dilators are used which merely accentuate the size of the wound and demand an appropriate suturing apparatus and technique for closing the wound. Wounds of this type have been addressed with direct hand pressure or specialized weights, bandages and dressings. These implements, requiring placement for extended supervised periods of time, also result in considerable discomfort to the patient. Other types of closure devices include bioresorbable plugs which in some cases provide a matrix which facilitates clotting. More recently, devices have been used which include needles and attached sutures which have been inserted into the vessel. The needles have been driven outwardly through the wall of the vessel where the suture ends have been captured and retrieved for knot tying. Similar devices are represented by U. S. Patent No. 5,417,699 which disclose a pair of proximally facing needles insertable through the wound and radially expandable so that upon retraction of the device the needles extend through holes in the surrounding tissue. The prethreaded holes are then drawn outwardly through the tissue wall along with the ends of attached sutures. This construction requires a special needle capture mechanism to pull the needles proximally through the body wall. The wound closure device of the present invention includes a distal cannula which is insertable through the wound and functions to provide a suture on the far side of the body wall. A handle of the device remains on the near side of the body wall. A finger tab operable on the handle manipulates the suture on the far side of the body wall between radially spaced outer and inner positions. A needle deployment mechanism, also operable on the handle, deploys needles from a proximal position to a distal position. In the distal position, the needles extend through needle holes in the surrounding tissue of the body wall, and into proximity with the suture on the far side of the body wall. In this position, the needles are disposed between the first and second positions of the suture so that manipulation of the suture between the first and second positions results in engaging the needle. The needles can then be withdrawn to capture the ends of the suture and to bring those ends through the needle holes to the near side of the body wall. At this point, the entire wound closure device can be retracted leaving the suture ends extending through tissue on opposite sides of the wound. Tying a knot between these ends tightens the suture across the wound to accomplish closure. The apparatus for thrading the needle on the far side of the body wall can include a Mallicot structure having legs which are radially expandable and contractible to move the suture into threading engagement with the needles. This mechanism is operable from the handle of the apparatus on the near side of the body wall. The apparatus for deploying the needles between the proximal and distal positions is also operable from the handle. This apparatus not only moves the needle but also trips the threading mechanism when the needles are appropriately positioned for threading. Further operation of the deployment mechanism frees the suture loop from a tensioning mechanism after the needles have been threaded, thereby permitting the apparatus to be withdrawn from the wound with the suture appropriately positioned to facilitate closure of the wound. In one aspect of the invention, a wound closure apparatus is adapted for suturing a wound in a tissue wall. The apparatus includes a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the cannula. At least one pair of needles is disposed in proximity to the distal end of the cannula, the needle being movable between a proximal position and a distal position wherein the needle extends through the tissue wall. A suture manipulator carried by the cannula is insertable through the wound and operable to manipulate the suture into an engaging relationship with the needle when the needle is in the distal position. Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a patient and illustrating one embodiment of a wound closure apparatus of the present invention being used to close a wound in the femoral artery of the patient; Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the wound closure apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an axial cross section view of the apparatus taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 3A is a radial cross section view taken along lines 3A-3A of Fig. 3; Fig. 3B is a radial cross section view taken along lines 3B-3B of Fig. 3; Fig. 3C is a cross-section view of a suture tensioning mechanism taken along lines 3C-3C of Fig. 3; Fig. 3D is a cross-section view of the suture tensioning mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3C, the mechanism being deactivated to release the suture; Fig. 4 is an axial cross section view similar to Fig. 3 and showing one embodiment of a suture deployment mechanism associated with the present invention; Fig. 5 is an axial cross section view similar to Fig. 4 and showing one embodiment of a needle deployment mechanism associated with the present invention, the needle mechanism being illustrated in a distal position suitable for threading the needles; Fig. 5A is a radial cross-section view taken along lines 5A-5A of Fig. 5, and showing the suture deployment mechanism in an expanded state prior to threading; Fig. 5B is a radial cross-section view similar to Fig. 5A and showing the suture deployment mechanism in a radially contracted state with the suture tightly held against the needles for threading; Fig. 6 is an axial cross section view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the needles in a retracted position after being threaded; Fig. 6A is an enlarged view of the threaded needles in the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 7 is a side elevation view illustrating the wound closure apparatus fully removed from the wound with the suture ends extending through the surrounding body wall; Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the suture ends tied to close the wound in the body wall; Fig. 9 is an end view similar to Fig. 5A and showing an alternate orientation of the suture to facilitate the threading of needles in an embodiment suitable for forming more than one pair of needle holes; Fig. 10 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of the apparatus including two pairs of needles; Fig. 11 is an elevation view of the wound closure apparatus being rotated so that a single pair of needles creates more than one pair of needle holes; Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of a further embodiment of a wound closure apparatus including a pair of suture capture needles; Fig. 13A is an axial cross-section view of a Suture tensioning mechanism and a needle deployment mechanism in a wound closure apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 13B is a fragmentary axial cross section view similar to Fig. 13A, showing the suture tensioning mechanism and the needle deployment mechanism in their distal most positions; and Fig. 13C is a fragmentary axial cross section view similar to Figs. 13A and 13B, showing the suture tensioning mechanism and the needle deployment mechanism in their proximal most positions; Figs. 14A-14E show a series of schematic views illustrating a method of performing surgery using the wound closure apparatus according to the present invention; and Figs. 15A-15C show a series of perspective views illustrating a method of placing a suture according to the present invention. A wound closure apparatus is illustrated in Figure 1 and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is illustrated in use for closing a wound 12 in a femoral artery 14 of a patient 16. The wound 12 would typically have been intentionally created in order to provide access through the femoral artery 14 to the cardiovascular system of the patient 16. In this case, the wound 12 is formed in the tissue of a body wall which forms the femoral artery 14. Thus, portions of the femoral artery define the hole or wound 12 in the body wall. The apparatus 10 is typically introduced into the artery 14 over a guidewire 18 which extends through an incision 21 in the skin 23 of the patient 16. It will be understood that although Figure 1 illustrates the suturing of a wound 12 interiorly of the skin 23, the apparatus 10 is equally adapted for use in suturing a wound in any body wall including the skin 23. A preferred embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10 is illustrated in Figure 2 and consists generally of a cannula 30 having a distal section 32, a proximal section 34, and an intermediate section 36. In this particular embodiment, the proximal section 34 comprises a handle 37, the distal section 34 comprises a flexible catheter 45, and the intermediate section 36 comprises a generally rigid tube. The cannula 30 is otherwise defined by an axis 38 which extends between a proximal end 41 and a distal end 43 of the apparatus 10. The cannula 30 is generally hollow in order to facilitate insertion of the apparatus 10 over the guidewire 18 which is shown at both the proximal and distal ends 41 and 43 respectively. Graduations 47 can be provided on the exterior surface of the intermediate section 36 in order to measure the depth of the wound 12 relative to the skin 23. Radiopaque marker rings can also be provided on the catheter 45 to facilitate fluoroscopic guidance and X-ray contrast. The handle 37 includes a pair of stationary finger rings 52, and an actuator in the form of an axially movable finger ring 54 which is discussed in greater detail below. A finger tab 56 is also movable along the handle 37. This finger tab 56 rides within an elongate groove 58 which includes a slot 61 having a proximally facing shoulder 63. The embodiment of Figure 2 is also provided with a Touchy-Boast valve 65 which can be tightened to seal against the guidewire 18. Back bleeding through the catheter 45 can be evidenced through the Touchy-Boast valve 65 to provide a visual indication that the catheter 45 is located within the artery 14. The interior regions of the cannula 30 are illustrated in Figure 3. From this view it can be seen that the catheter 45 in this particular embodiment extends from the proximal end 41 and exits the cannula 30 through the distal end 43. Thus the catheter 45 forms a hollow tube within the hollow tube of the cannula 30. An inner channel 70 associated with the catheter 45 is adapted to receive not only the guidewire 18, but also a suture 72 which is described in greater detail below. An inner channel 74 associated with the cannula 30 is provided with a plug 76 at its distal end 43. This plug 76 has a distally facing outer surface 78, a proximally facing shoulder 79, and an annular recess 81 terminating within the channel 74 at a proximally facing surface 83. Radially outwardly of the recess 81, a pair of longitudinal needle bores 85, 87 are provided which extend generally parallel to the axis 38 from the cannula channel 74 to the outer surface 78. A pair of needles 90, 92 are mounted for reciprocal movement within the respective bores 85 and 87. These needles 90, 92 are carried by a common radial flange 94 which is disposed within the channel 74 of the cannula 30 but is suitably apertured to receive the catheter 45 along the axis 38. On the distal side of the flange 94, a needle return spring 96 is disposed to extend from the surface 83 of the recess 81 to the flange 94. On the proximal side of the flange 94, a travel slack spring 98 extends from the flange 94 to a distally facing surface 101 of an elongate cylinder 103. This cylinder 103, which is disposed coaxial with and interiorly of the cannula 30, and is moveable by operation of the finger ring 54 within the channel 74 of the cannula 30. The catheter 45 extends through the cylinder 103 so that the cylinder 103 occupies a generally cylindrical space between the catheter 45 and the cannula 30. In this embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10, the finger ring 54 and attached cylinder 103 together with the springs 96, 98, the needles 90, 92 and associated flange 94 function as a deployment mechanism to initially deploy and ultimately retract the needles 90, 92. As the finger ring 54 is moved distally, the surface 101 of the cylinder 103 presses against the spring 98 which in turn forces the flange 94 and attached needles 90, 92 distally against the bias of the spring 96. Thus, distal pressure on of the finger ring 54 moves the needles 90, 92 from a proximal position best illustrated in Figure 3 to a distal position best illustrated in Figure 5. When the finger ring 54 is moved backwardly or proximally, the cylinder 103 withdraws from the spring 98 and the force of the compressed spring on the flange 94 causes the needles 90, 92 to return from the distal position illustrated in Figure 5 toward the proximal position illustrated in Figure 3. The combination of the cylinder 103 and finger ring 54 is also provided with a trip mechanism in the form of a tang 105 which rides within the groove 58 to engage a flange 107 on the finger tab 56. This flange 107 has an inclined surface 109 and a distal facing shoulder 111, discussed in greater detail below. A suture deployment mechanism 114 can be formed as part of the catheter 45 in general proximity to the distal surface 78 associated with the cannula 30. In a preferred embodiment, this suture manipulating mechanism 114 is formed by a plurality of slits 116 (best shown in the radial cross section view of Figure 3B) which are spaced around the circumference of the catheter 45. These slits 116 define a plurality of fingers 118 perhaps best shown in Figure 4. Each of the fingers 118 can be provided with an intermediated living hinge 121 which facilitates radial expansion of the fingers 118 when the catheter 45 is axially compressed. This radial expansion occurs between a first position illustrated in Figure 3, where the fingers 118 have a relatively low profile, to a second position illustrated in Figure 4, where the fingers 118 have a relatively high radial profile. In combination, the expandable fingers 118 form a device commonly referred to as a Mallicot structure. Between the first, low profile position and the second, high profile position of the fingers 118, there exists a natural position described below with reference to Figure 6. The suture manipulating mechanism 114 also includes the finger tab 56 and a projection 123 which extends from the tab 56 through the groove 58 and into the channel 74 of the cannula 30. An elongate element 125 is fixed at its proximal end to the projection 123 and at its distal end to a flange 127 at the distal tip of the apparatus 10. This flange 127, which is apertured to receive the guidewire 18, is at least as large as the catheter 45 at the distal end 43 of the apparatus 10. It is the purpose of the finger tab 56, the element 125 and the flange 127 to move the fingers 118 between the low profile position and the high profile position. As the finger tab 56 is moved proximally, from the solid line position to the dotted line position in Figure 3, the element 125 is tensioned thereby drawing the distal flange 127 proximally. This creates an axial compression force on the catheter 45 which causes each of the fingers 118 to buckle at its ends and at the associated living hinge 21 thereby resulting in expansion of the finger 118 forming the.Mallicot structure. These fingers 118 can be maintained in the second, expanded position automatically by ensuring that the flange 107 associated with the finger tab 56 is appropriately lodged within the slot 61 associated with the groove 58. Thus, the finger tab 56 can be locked in the proximal, dotted position when the flange 107 falls into the slot 61 and the distally facing surface 111 of the flange 107 engages the proximally facing surface 63 of the slot 61. The resulting lock, which holds the tab 56 in its proximal position and holds the fingers 118 in their second expanded state, is released in a preferred embodiment when the tab 105 associated with the finger ring 54 and cylinder 103 engages the flange 107 forcing it out of the slot 61. When the lock is released, it is the natural tendency of the fingers 118 to move back toward the low profile state. This forces the distal flange 127 distally tensioning the element 125 and drawing the finger tab 56 distally, from the dotted position to the solid line position in Figure 3. Distal finger pressure on the tab 56 can also facilitate movement of the fingers 118 from the high profile state toward the low profile state if the elongate element. 125 can accommodate a compressive load. This operation of the suture manipulating mechanism 114 and the expandable fingers 118 make this structure particularly useful in deploying the suture 72. As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the suture 72 includes free ends 130 and 132 which can be embedded in or near the living hinge 121 of adjacent fingers 118. Between the ends 130 and 132, the suture forms a suture loop 134 which is relatively long and extends from the fingers 118 into the channel 70 of the catheter 45 and along substantially the entire length of the cannula 30 where it exits the catheter 45 through a pathway or hole 136. Exteriorly of the catheter 45, the suture loop 134 engages a suture tensioning device 138 in the form of a tab 141 formed in the wall of the cylinder 103. This tab 141 includes a post 143 which extends radially outwardly to receive the suture loop 134. The tab 141 is compressible radially inwardly by a projection 145 on the inner surface of the handle 37, best seen in Figure 3C. As the cylinder 103 moves axially, by operation of the finger ring 54, the projection 145 engages the tab 141 and moves it radially inwardly. This causes the suture 72 to clear the post 143 effectively dislodging the suture loop 134 from the tensioning device 138. This feature is particularly advantageous during operation of the apparatus 10 for reasons discussed in greater detail below. A preferred method for attaching the suture 72 to the fingers 118 can be best understood with reference to Figure 5A. In this embodiment, the fingers 118 are further designated by the reference numerals 152, 154, 156, and 158. In the view of Figure 5A, the fingers 152-158 are fully extended in the second position. The associated living hinges 121 are disposed at the bends of the fingers 152-158 where the fingers reach their maximum radial distance from the axis 38. With such an embodiment, the suture end 130 can be loosely embedded in the finger 154, the suture can then be led from the finger 154 and through a slit in the living hinge 121 associated with the finger 156. From this point, the suture loop 134 can be fed into the catheter 45 and along the length of the cannula 30. In a similar manner, the suture end 132 can be loosely embedded in the finger 152 and led through a slit in the living hinge 121 associated with the leg 158. With this orientation, each of the suture ends 130, 132 forms a short section of suture which extends between adjacent legs. Thus, the suture end 130 extends between adjacent legs 154, 156 to form a suture portion 159, while the suture end 132 extends between opposing adjacent legs 152, 158 to form a suture portion 160. Loading of the wound closure apparatus 10 can be accomplished during the final stage of manufacture. The finger tab 56 on the handle 37 is initially set to the distal position illustrated by the solid lines in Figure 3. This ensures that the fingers 118 forming the Mallicot structure are in the low profile state. The suture 72 can then be mounted on the fingers 118 and the suture loop 134 and threaded through the channel 70 of the catheter 45. After exiting the hole 136 in the catheter 45, the suture loop 134 is disposed around the post 143 in the suture tensioner 138. finally, the movable finger ring 54 is placed in its proximal position so that the needles 90, 92 are. retracted into the associated bores 85, 87. The Touchy-Boast valve 65 can also be loosened to allow insertion over the guidewire 18. Operation of the wound closure apparatus is begun by inserting the catheter 45 into the wound 12. If the wound 12 is in the skin 23 of the patient 16, the catheter 45 is introduced directly into the wound 12. If however, as illustrated in Figure 1, the wound occurs in a body wall, such as the wall of the femoral artery 14, the small incision 21 can be made in the skin 23 in order to gain access to the artery 14. The guidewire 18 will typically have been placed through the incision 21 and wound 12 as part of the surgical procedure which developed the wound 12. With the guidewire 18 in place, the apparatus 10 can be positioned over the guidewire 18 so that the distal tip of the catheter 45 follows the guidewire through the incision 21 and the wound 12 into the artery 14. At this point, the graduations 47 on the cannula 30 will provide an indication of the depth of the artery 14 relative to the skin 23. Radiopaque markers on the catheter 45 can be useful to facilitate fluoroscopic guidance to an operative position. The Touchy-Boast valve 65 also provides a visual indication of Back bleeding which would evidence proper placement within a blood vessel. The valve 65 can also be provided with a T-fitting to facilitate injections of X-ray contrast media through the catheter 45. With reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the body wall, in this case a body wall 161 of the artery 14, has a near side 163 and a far side 165. Since access to the far side 165 of the body wall 161 is severely limited, it is of particular advantage to the present invention that wound closure can be achieved without direct access to the far side 165 except through the wound 12. In the preferred method, the catheter 45 is inserted through the wound 12 a distance sufficient that the fingers 118 forming a Mallicot structure are positioned on the far side 165 of the body wall 161. The cannula 30 including the needles 90 and 92, remain on the near side 163 of the body wall 161. With this orientation, it will be noted that the suture ends 130, 132 illustrated in Figure 4 are positioned on the far side 165 while the suture loop 134 is positioned on the near side 163 of the body wall 161. This preferred operative position for the apparatus 10 is achieved by operation of the handle 37 and associated stationary rings 52. With the apparatus 10 thus disposed, the fingers can be expanded from their first low profile state illustrated in Figure 3 to their second expanded state illustrated in Figure 4. Note that this expansion of the fingers 118 results in the radial outward movement of the suture portion 159, 160. with the suture portions 159, 160 appropriately positioned, the needles 90, 92 can now be deployed. These needles 90, 92 are initially disposed in their associated bores 85, 87 on the near side 163 of the body wall 161. Deployment of the needles 90, 92 is accomplished by moving the finger ring 54 and associated cylinder 103 distally in the direction of an arrow 167 in Figure 5. The distally facing surface 101 of the cylinder 103 compresses the spring 98 which in turn exerts a force on the needle flange 94. This force, which is increased with further distal movement of the finger ring 54 against the bias of the spring 96, moves the needles 90, 92 beyond the distal surface 78 and through needle holes 170 and 172 respectively, in the body wall 161. Distal movement of the needles 90, 92 ceases when the flange 94 bottoms out on the proximal facing surface 79 of the plug 76. The needles 90, 92 each have a needle eye 176, 178 respectively, which in a preferred embodiment is in the form of a French eye. When the needles 90, 92 are fully extended, these eyes 176, 178 are preferably disposed on the far side 165 of the body wall 161 and beyond the suture portions 159, 160. With the suture portions 159, 160 in their radially extended position, the needles 90, 92 in their distal-most position, and the needle eyes 176, 178 facing the suture portions 159, 160, the suture 72 can now be manipulated to thread the needles 90, 92. In a preferred embodiment, this manipulation of the suture 72 is accomplished by further distal movement of the finger ring 54 to a second position where the tang 105, riding within the groove 58, engages the inclined surface 109 of the flange 107. This engagement of the flange 107 by the tang 105 releases the finger tab 56 from its locked proximal position. This relieves tension on the.element 125 and enables the fingers 118 to radially compress naturally as the catheter 45 elongates. The radial compression of the fingers 118 moves the suture portions 159, 160 against the associated needles 90, 92 at a position proximal to the eyes 176, 178. Of course with the radial compression of the fingers 118, the distance between the adjacent living hinges 121 is reduced. This would normally cause the suture portions 159, 160 to become slack were it not for the suture tensioning mechanism 138 previously discussed. It will be noted that as the finger ring 54 is moved distally, the suture tensioning mechanism also moves distally. Since the hole 136 in the catheter 45 is disposed proximally of the tensioning mechanism 138, the distal movement of the mechanism 138 creates proximal movement of the suture loop through the catheter channel 70. This in turn tensions the suture portions 159 and 160 even as the fingers 118 are radially contracting. To this point, distal movement of the finger ring 54 has operated to deploy the needles 90, 92 in a first position, and to manipulate the fingers 118 in order to thread the needles in a second position of the finger ring 54. This manipulation of the fingers 118 in the second position is accomplished while tensioning the sutures 72 with the mechanism 138. Further distal movement of the finger fing 54 to a third position results in removal of the suture loop 134 from the post 143 of the tensioner 138. This has the effect of releasing the suture loop 134 from the apparatus 10 so that it is free to be drawn into the wound 12. This freeing of the suture loop 134 is accomplished as illustrated in Figure 3B when distal movement of the cylinder 103 brings the tab 141 into proximity with the projection 145 on the handle 37. This interfering relationship causes the tab 141 to compress radially inwardly thus forcing the suture loop 134 from the post 143 as illustrated in Figure 3D. It will be noted at this point that movement of the finger ring 54 in a common distal direction operates to perform three sequential steps in a method for operating the apparatus 10. In a first step associated with first distal position of the ring 54, the needles 90, 92 are deployed to a position where they can be threaded. In a second step associated with a second position of the ring 54, the finger tab 56 is released thereby permitting contraction of the fingers 118 to facilitate threading the needles 90, 92. In a third step associated with a third position of the finger ring 54, the suture loop 134 is released from the tensioning mechanism 138 to facilitate withdrawal of the apparatus 10. With the suture portions 159, 160 tensioned radially against the needles 90, 92 proximally of the eyes 176, 178, the needles 90, 92 can now be retracted. Initially this retraction of the needles 90, 92 causes the tensioned suture portions 159, 160 to enter the eyes 176, 178. Further retraction of the needles 90, 92 withdraws the captured suture portions 159, 160 through the associated needle holes 170, 172 in the skin 23. At this point, both of the suture ends 130, 132, as well as the suture loop 134, are disposed on the near side 163 of the wall 161. The apparatus 10 can now be withdrawn from the wound 12. The needles 90, 92 are preferably retracted until the eyes 176, 178 enlarged by the presence of the suture portions 152, 154 are biased against the distal surface 78 at the distal end of the cannula 30. In this position of the needles 90, 92, illustrated in the enlarged view of Figure 6A, the suture ends 130, 132 are trapped between the respective needles 90, 92 and the cannula 30 due to return spring force. With the suture loop 134 released from the post 143 of the tensioner 138, removal of the apparatus 10 will draw the suture portions 159, 160 further away from the body wall 161 as illustrated in Figure 7. This causes the suture loop 134 to be drawn distally through the catheter 45 until it exits from between adjacent legs 156, 158 and is drawn through the wound 12 to the far side 165 of the body wall 161. Once the wound closure apparatus 10 has been fully removed from the wound 12, the suture ends 130, 132 can be removed or cut from the fingers 118 and tied with a surgeon's knot in a conventional manner. Such a knot can be pushed through the incision 21 and into proximity with the wound 12 as illustrated in Figure 8. An additional embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 10 and includes two needle pairs. The needles 90 and 92 previously discussed form one of the needle pairs while an additional needle pair comprises needles 201 and 203. In this case, the four needles 90, 92, 201 and 203 are displaced 90° from each other around the distal surface 78 of the cannula 30. The needle deployment (not shown in Figure 10) can be similar to that previously discussed where the four needles 90, 92, 201 and 203 are fixed to the common flange 94 (best illustrated in Figure 4). This embodiment of the invention functions to simultaneously apply two sutures to the wound 12. The first suture can be that previously referenced with the numeral 72. This suture can be laced to the suture manipulating mechanism illustrated in figure 9 in the same manner as discussed with reference to Figure 5. A second color-coded suture 205 can also be laced on to the legs 152-158 of the Mallicot structure in the manner illustrated in Figure 9. This suture 205 having a first end 207 and a second end 209 is also characterized by a suture loop portion 210. In a preferred method, the end 207 of the suture 205 is loosely held in the leg 154 of the Mallicot structure. The suture is then laced through the living hinge 121 and the leg 152 with the suture loop 210 extending into the channel associated with the catheter 45. As the suture loop exits this channel, it can be passed through the living hinge 121 associated with the leg 158. Finally, the end 209 of the second suture 205 can be loosely embedded in the leg 156. This configuration for the second suture 205 produces a suture portion 212 between the legs 152 and 154 and a second suture portion 214 between the legs 156 and 158. In this manner, the two sutures 72 and 205 can form the four suture portions 159, 160, 212 and 214 for the respective needles 90, 92, 201 and 203. The resulting suture deployment mechanism can be operated in the manner previously discussed to thread each of the four needles associated with the embodiment of Figure 10. The dual suture embodiment of the suture deployment mechanism illustrated in Figure 9, can also be used with the two needle embodiment of the apparatus 10 previously discussed. In a preferred method of operation, the two needles 90-92 can be operated in the manner previously discussed to capture the suture portions 159 and 160. Then the cannula 30 and needles 90, 92 can be rotated 90° to function with respect to the suture portions 212 and 214. Of course in this embodiment, means must be provided for rotating the cannula 30, and needles 90, 92 relative to the legs 152-158 forming the Mallicot structure. Figure 12 illustrates a further embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10. This embodiment includes the cannula 30 and catheter 45, as well as the fingers 118 and associated suture 72. The illustrated embodiment also includes the needles 90, 92, but in this case, the needle eyes (previously designated by the reference numerals 176, 178) are not formed as French eyes, but rather as mere slots 221, 223. As compared to the French eyes previously discussed, the slots 221, 223 can be formed with a significantly lesser depth. As a result, the needles 90, 92 can provided with a much smaller diameter. The embodiment of Figure 12 provides for effective suture capture with the provision of suture capture needles 225 and 227. These needles 225 and 227 can be provided with a tubular configuration and a telescoping relationship with the associated needles 90, 92. The distal ends of the suture capture needles 225, 227 can be sharpened to facilitate their deployment through the body wall 17. Operation of the Figure 12 embodiment proceeds in the manner previously discussed with the needles 90, 92 being deployed through the body wall 17. with the more narrow configuration of the needles 90, 92, this step of deploying the needles should be more easily accomplished than in the Figure 5 embodiment. As the suture 72 is manipulated by the fingers 118 in the manner previously discussed, the suture 72 is drawn into the slots 221, 223 of the respective needles 90, 92. At this point, the suture capture needles 225, 227 can be deployed by moving them distally along the associated needles 90, 92. As the distal end of the capture needles 225, 227 approach the slots 221, 223, the suture 72 is pinched between the associated needles 90, 225 and 92, 227. With the suture 72 appropriately captured in the slots 221, 223, the needles 90, 92 and associated capture needles 225, 227 can be withdrawn toward the cannula 30. Preferably after the needles 90, 92 and 225, 227 have cleared the body wall 17, the entire apparatus 10 can be withdrawn from the wound 12 as the method of closure continues in the manner previously described. Figures 13A-13C illustrate another embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10. This embodiment includes a suture deployment mechanism which is substantially identical to the suture deployment mechanism 114 shown in Figures 3 and 4, including the finger tab 56, which is lockable in its proximal position, and the tab 105 on the finger ring 54, which releases the finger tab 56 from its locked position when the finger ring 54 is moved distally. In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, as also described in co-pending European application EP 785 752, where the suture tensioner 138 is integral with the needle deployment cylinder 103 and the finger ring 54, the embodiment of Figures 13A-13C includes a suture carriage 230 which is releasably secured to the finger ring 54 by a detent 232 which extends proximally from the suture carriage 230 to engage a shoulder 234 formed on a distal portion of the finger ring 54. The suture carriage 230 also includes a tab 141 and radially compressible post 143 which receive and release the suture loop 134 as shown in Figures 3C and 3D in connection with the first embodiment. However, while the suture loop 134 in the embodiment of Figure 3 exits the catheter at a point proximal to the suture tensioner 138 and is doubled over and extended downwardly to engage the post 143 in the manner of a pulley, the suture loop 134 according to the embodiment of Figures 13A-13C exits the catheter at a point distal to the suture carriage 230 and extends upwardly over the post 143 in a more direct manner. As in the embodiment of Figures 3-5, the needles of the wound closure apparatus 10 of Figures 13A-13C extend from the distal side of a flange 94 (not shown in Figures 113A-13C) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula. However, the needle control cylinder 103 of the embodiment of Figures 3-5 is replaced in this embodiment with a needle control rod 236 extending proximally from the proximal side of the flange 94. The finger ring 54 is coupled to the control rod 236 by a pair of axially spaced flanges 238, 240 which allow the finger ring 54 to slide between a distal point wherein a distal surface 242 of the distal flange 240 engages a drive block 244 formed on the control rod 236 and a proximal point wherein a proximal surface 248 of the distal flange 240 engages a return block 250 formed on the control rod. Operation of the wound closure apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of Figures 13A-C is as follows. First, as in the previous embodiment, the catheter 45 is inserted into the wound 12 a distance sufficient to position the fingers 118 forming the Mallicot structure (not shown in Figures 13A-13C) on the far side of the body wall. The finger tab 56 can be locked into its proximal position to hold the Mallicot fingers in their expanded state so that free ends of the suture 72 extend radially outwardly. Next, the finger ring 54 is moved distally to deploy the needles distally through the body wall 161. Distal movement of the needles begins when the distal surface of the distal flange 240 of the finger ring 54 contacts the drive block 244 of the needle control rod 236, as shown in Figure 13A, and ceases when the distal surface 252 of the finger ring 54 bottoms out on the proximal surface 254 of the suture carriage 230. At this point the detent 232 on the suture carriage 230 engages the shoulder 234 on the finger ring 54, as shown in Figure 13B. The ends of the suture are now extended radially outwardly and aligned with the eyes of needles. With the suture thus positioned, the finger tab 56 can be released from its locked position, allowing the fingers of the Mallicot structure to compress to their natural position, thus moving the ends of the suture into the eyes of needles. Next, the finger ring 54 is moved proximally, causing the suture carriage 230 to also move proximally, thereby tensioning the suture. The finger ring 54 continues to slide proximally along the needle control rod 236 until the proximal surface 248 of the distal flange 240 contacts the return block 250 of the needle control rod 236, thus causing the needle control rod 236 and the needles to move proximally as well. Suture tensioning and needle withdrawal now continue simultaneously. This results in more reliable capture of the suture ends in the needle eyes than in the previous embodiment, where needle withdrawal does not occur until after the sutúre has been released from the tensioner. Further proximal movement of the finger ring 54 causes the tab 141 of the suture carriage 230 to be brought into proximity with a projection 145 (not shown in Figures 13A-C) on the handle 37 of the device 10, thus compressing the tab 141 and releasing the suture loop 134 in the same fashion as illustrated in Figure 3D and as described earlier in connection with the previous embodiment. The finger ring continues to be moved proximally, retracting the needles, until the proximal flange 238 of the finger ring 54 abuts the proximal end of the housing handle cavity, as shown in Figure 13C. The wound closure apparatus 10 can then be removed from the wound 12 and the ends of the suture tied in a conventional manner, as in the previous embodiment. Figures 14A-14E are schematic illustrations of a method of using the wound closure device 10 of the present invention to place a suture in a wound before a surgical procedure. Initially, a guide wire 18 is inserted into the skin 23 of a patient, through a layer of fat 254, and through the wall 161 of a body vessel such as a femoral artery 14, as shown in Figure 14A. Next, the flexible catheter 45 at the distal end of the wound closure device 10 of the present invention is introduced over the guidewire 18, as shown in Figure 14B. The wound closure device 10 is now manipulated as earlier described, and shown in greater detail in Figures 15A-15C, to place a suture 72 in the wound. Specifically, the needles 90, 92 are first deployed through the wall 161 and the suture manipulating mechanism 114 is deployed to radially expand the end portions 159, 160 of the suture 72 in the proximity of the needle eyes 176, 178, as shown in Figure 15B. Next, the needles 90, 92 are retracted and the suture loop 134 is drawn proximally to tension the suture 72, as shown in Figure 15B. At this point, the fingers 118 of the Mallicot structure have been withdrawn from the wound 12, yet a significant length of the catheter 45 still remains in the vessel 14, thus ensuring that the wound 12 will remain plugged and blood will be prevented from escaping from the vessel 14 until the suture 134 has been properly placed. Finally, the suture loop 134 is released and drawn into place against the far side of the wound and the distal end of the catheter 45 is withdrawn from the vessel 14, as shown in Figure 15C. Returning now to Figure 14C, after the suture 72 has been placed, the guidewire 18 is repositioned as necessary, and the ends 130, 132, of the suture 72 are retrieved through the opening 256 formed in the skin 23 by the device 10. Next, a dilator 258 is introduced over the guidewire 18 and the wound 12 is enlarged to accommodate an access sheath of a size appropriate for the desired surgical procedure, as shown in Figure 14D. Once the procedure has been completed, the sheath and the guidewire 18 are withdrawn, and the ends 130, 132 of the suture 72 tied to one another to close the wound, as shown in Figure 14E. The above method places the suture in the wound before dilation takes place, it allows a single, relatively small diameter (ie. 6-8 French) wound closure device 10 to be used for a wide range of procedures using different sized access sheaths (for instance, up to 10-12 French). This is in direct contrast to conventional methods which place the suture in the wound after dilation, and thus require a number of wound closure devices of different sheath sizes to be made available in order to fit in the various-sized wounds. Given the wide variations in the concept embodied in the foregoing apparatus and methods, one is cautioned not to restrict the invention to the embodiments which have been specifically disclosed and illustrated, but rather is encouraged to determine the scope of the invention only with reference to the following claims. Description for the following Contracting States : DE, ES, FR, GB, IT, NL This invention relates generally to an apparatus for closing a wound or hole in a body wall, and more specifically to wound closure devices using suture material. A puncture-type wound in a body wall can be created either unintentionally, or intentionally as part of a surgical procedure. In either case, the wound typically has the configuration of a hole extending through the body wall where access to the far side of the wall is available only through the wound. The wound in the body wall may be accidentally created but it is more likely that it will be intentionally created in a surgical procedure associated with interventional cardiology, for example. Surgical 1 procedures involving interventional cardiology commonly produce a wound in the femoral or iliac artery of the patient. In this case, the body wall in which the wound is formed is the wall of the artery which is disposed some distance beneath the skin of the patient. When these arteries are punctured, wounds or holes are left in the tissue wall forming the arteries. Currently, large caliber access sheaths and dilators are used which merely accentuate the size of the wound and demand an appropriate suturing apparatus and technique for closing the wound. Wounds of this type have been addressed with direct hand pressure or specialized weights, bandages and dressings. These implements, requiring placement for extended supervised periods of time, also result in considerable discomfort to the patient. Other types of closure devices include bioresorbable plugs which in some cases provide a matrix which facilitates clotting. More recently, devices have been used which include needles and attached sutures which have been inserted into the vessel. The needles have been driven outwardly through the wall of the vessel where the suture ends have been captured and retrieved for knot tying. Similar devices are represented by U. S. Patent No. 5,417,699 which disclose a pair of proximally facing needles insertable through the wound and radially expandable so that upon retraction of the device the needles extend through holes in the surrounding tissue. The prethreaded holes are then drawn outwardly through the tissue wall along with the ends of attached sutures. This construction requires a special needle capture mechanism to pull the needles proximally through the body wall. The wound closure device of the present invention includes a distal cannula which is insertable through the wound and functions to provide a suture on the far side of the body wall. A handle of the device remains on the near side of the body wall. A finger tab operable on the handle manipulates the suture on the far side of the body wall between radially spaced outer and inner positions. A needle deployment mechanism, also operable on the handle, deploys needles from a proximal position to a distal position. In the distal position, the needles extend through needle holes in the surrounding tissue of the body wall, and into proximity with the suture on the far side of the body wall. In this position, the needles are disposed between the first and second positions of the suture so that manipulation of the suture between the first and second positions results in engaging the needle. The needles can then be withdrawn to capture the ends of the suture and to bring those ends through the needle holes to the near side of the body wall. At this point, the entire wound closure device can be retracted leaving the suture ends extending through tissue on opposite sides of the wound. Tying a knot between these ends tightens the suture across the wound to accomplish closure. The apparatus for threading the needle on the far side of the body wall can include a Mallicot structure having legs which are radially expandable and contractible to move the suture into threading engagement with the needles. This mechanism is operable from the handle of the apparatus on the near side of the body wall. The apparatus for deploying the needles between the proximal and distal positions is also operable from the handle. This apparatus not only moves the needle but also trips the threading mechanism when the needles are appropriately positioned for threading. Further operation of the deployment mechanism frees the suture loop from a tensioning mechanism after the needles have been threaded, thereby permitting the apparatus to be withdrawn from the wound with the suture appropriately positioned to facilitate closure of the wound. A previous International patent application WO 97/03613 a document under Article 54(3) EPC discloses a wound closure apparatus is adapted for suturing a wound in a tissue wall. The apparatus includes a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the cannula. At least one pair of needles is disposed in proximity to the distal end of the cannula, the needle being movable between a proximal position and a distal position wherein the needle extends through the tissue wall. A suture manipulator carried by the cannula is insertable through the wound and operable to manipulate the suture into an engaging relationship with the needle when the needle is in the distal position. According to the present invention a wound closure apparatus as described in the preceding paragraph further comprises a suture tensioning mechanism for releasably supporting the suture loop the suture tensioning mechanism including a suture carriage mounted for reciprocation in the cannula and releasably secured to an actuator associated with the actuation means. Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a patient and illustrating one embodiment of a wound closure apparatus of the present invention being used to close a wound in the femoral artery of the patient; Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the wound closure apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig - 3 is an axial cross section view of the apparatus taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 3A is a radial cross section view taken along lines 3A-3A of Fig. 3; Fig. 3B is a radial cross section view taken along lines 3B-3B of Fig. 3; Fig. 3C is a cross-section view of a suture tensioning mechanism taken along lines 3C-3C of Fig. 3; Fig. 3D is a cross-section view of the suture tensioning mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3C, the mechanism being deactivated to release the suture; Fig. 4 is an axial cross section view similar to Fig. 3 and showing one embodiment of a suture deployment mechanism associated with the present invention; Fig. 5 is an axial cross section view similar to Fig. 4 and showing one embodiment of a needle deployment mechanism associated with the present invention, the needle mechanism being illustrated in a distal position suitable for threading the needles; Fig. 5A is a radial cross-section view taken along lines 5A-5A of Fig. 5, and showing the suture deployment mechanism in an expanded state prior to threading; Fig. 5B is a radial cross-section view similar to Fig. 5A and showing the suture deployment mechanism in a radially contracted state with the suture tightly held against the needles for threading; Fig. 6 is an axial cross section view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the needles in a retracted position after being threaded; Fig. 6A is an enlarged view of the threaded needles in the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 6; Fig. 7 is a side elevation view illustrating the wound closure apparatus fully removed from the wound with the suture ends extending through the surrounding body wall; Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the suture ends tied to close the wound in the body wall; Fig. 9 is an end view similar to Fig. 5A and showing an alternate orientation of the suture to facilitate the threading of needles in an embodiment suitable for forming more than one pair of needle holes; Fig. 10 is an elevation view of a further embodiment of the apparatus including two pairs of needles; Fig. 11 is an elevation view of the wound closure apparatus being rotated so that a single pair of needles creates more than one pair of needle holes; Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of a further embodiment of a wound closure apparatus including a pair of suture capture needles; Fig. 13A is an axial cross-section view of a Suture tensioning mechanism and a needle deployment mechanism in a wound closure apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 13B is a fragmentary axial cross section view similar to Fig. 13A, showing the suture tensioning mechanism and the needle deployment mechanism in their distal most positions; and Fig. 13C is a fragmentary axial cross section view similar to Figs. 13A and 13B, showing the suture tensioning mechanism and the needle deployment mechanism in their proximal most positions; Figs. 14A-14E show a series of schematic views illustrating a method of performing surgery using the wound closure apparatus according to the present invention; and Figs. 15A-15C show a series of perspective views illustrating a method of placing a suture according to the present invention. A wound closure apparatus is illustrated in Figure 1 and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is illustrated in use for closing a wound 12 in a femoral artery 14 of a patient 16. The wound 12 would typically have been intentionally created in order to provide access through the femoral artery 14 to the cardiovascular system of the patient 16. In this case, the wound 12 is formed in the tissue of a body wall which forms the femoral artery 14. Thus, portions of the femoral artery define the hole or wound 12 in the body wall. The apparatus 10 is typically introduced into the artery 14 over a guidewire 18 which extends through an incision 21 in the skin 23 of the patient 16. It will be understood that although Figure 1 illustrates the suturing of a wound 12 interiorly of the skin 23, the apparatus 10 is equally adapted for use in suturing a wound in any body wall including the skin 23. A preferred embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10 is illustrated in Figure 2 and consists generally of a cannula 30 having a distal section 32, a proximal section 34, and an intermediate section 36. In this particular embodiment, the proximal section 34 comprises a handle 37, the distal section 34 comprises a flexible catheter 45, and the intermediate section 36 comprises a generally rigid tube. The cannula 30 is otherwise defined by an axis 38 which extends between a proximal end 41 and a distal end 43 of the apparatus 10. The cannula 30 is generally hollow in order to facilitate insertion of the apparatus 10 over the guidewire 18 which is shown at both the proximal and distal ends 41 and 43 respectively. Graduations 47 can be provided on the exterior surface of the intermediate section 36 in order to measure the depth of the wound 12 relative to the skin 23. Radiopaque marker rings can also be provided on the catheter 45 to facilitate fluoroscopic guidance and X-ray contrast. The handle 37 includes a pair of stationary finger rings 52, and an actuator in the form of an axially movable finger ring 54 which is discussed in greater detail below. A finger tab 56 is also movable along the handle 37. This finger tab 56 rides within an elongate groove 58 which includes a slot 61 having a proximally facing shoulder 63. The embodiment of Figure 2 is also provided with a Touchy-Boast valve 65 which can be tightened to seal against the guidewire 18. Back bleeding through the catheter 45 can be evidenced through the Touchy-Boast valve 65 to provide a visual indication that the catheter 45 is located within the artery 14. The interior regions of the cannula 30 are illustrated in Figure 3. From this view it can be seen that the catheter 45 in this particular embodiment extends from the proximal end 41 and exits the cannula 30 through the distal end 43. Thus the catheter 45 forms a hollow tube within the hollow tube of the cannula 30. An inner channel 70 associated with the catheter 45 is adapted to receive not only the guidewire 18, but also a suture 72 which is described in greater detail below. An inner channel 74 associated with the cannula 30 is provided with a plug 76 at its distal end 43. This plug 76 has a distally facing outer surface 78, a proximally facing shoulder 79, and an annular recess 81 terminating within the channel 74 at a proximally facing surface 83. Radially outwardly of the recess 81, a pair of longitudinal needle bores 85, 87 are provided which extend generally parallel to the axis 38 from the cannula channel 74 to the outer surface 78. A pair of needles 90, 92 are mounted for reciprocal movement within the respective bores 85 and 87. These needles 90, 92 are carried by a common radial flange 94 which is disposed within the channel 74 of the cannula 30 but is suitably apertured to receive the catheter 45 along the axis 38. On the distal side of the flange 94, a needle return spring 96 is disposed to extend from the surface 83 of the recess 81 to the flange 94. On the proximal side of the flange 94, a travel slack spring 98 extends from the flange 94 to a distally facing surface 101 of an elongate cylinder 103. This cylinder 103, which is disposed coaxial with and interiorly of the cannula 30, and is moveable by operation of the finger ring 54 within the channel 74 of the cannula 30. The catheter 45 extends through the cylinder 103 so that the cylinder 103 occupies a generally cylindrical space between the catheter 45 and the cannula 30. In this embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10, the finger ring 54 and attached cylinder 103 together with the springs 96, 98, the needles 90, 92 and associated flange 94 function as a deployment mechanism to initially deploy and ultimately retract the needles 90, 92. As the finger ring 54 is moved distally, the surface 101 of the cylinder 103 presses against the spring 98 which in turn forces the flange 94 and attached needles 90, 92 distally against the bias of the spring 96. Thus, distal pressure on of the finger ring 54 moves the needles 90, 92 from a proximal position best illustrated in Figure 3 to a distal position best illustrated in Figure 5. When the finger ring 54 is moved backwardly or proximally, the cylinder 103 withdraws from the spring 98 and the force of the compressed spring on the flange 94 causes the needles 90, 92 to return from the distal position illustrated in Figure 5 toward the proximal position illustrated in Figure 3. The combination of the cylinder 103 and finger ring 54 is also provided with a trip mechanism in the form of a tang 105 which rides within the groove 58 to engage a flange 107 on the finger tab 56. This flange 107 has an inclined surface 109 and a distal facing shoulder 111, discussed in greater detail below. A suture deployment mechanism 114 can be formed as part of the catheter 45 in general proximity to the distal surface 78 associated with the cannula 30. In a preferred embodiment, this suture manipulating mechanism 114 is formed by a plurality of slits 116 (best shown in the radial cross section view of Figure 3B) which are spaced around the circumference of the catheter 45. These slits 116 define a plurality of fingers 118 perhaps best shown in Figure 4. Each of the fingers 118 can be provided with an intermediated living hinge 121 which facilitates radial expansion of the fingers 118 when the catheter 45 is axially compressed. This radial expansion occurs between a first position illustrated in Figure 3, where the fingers 118 have a relatively low profile, to a second position illustrated in Figure 4, where the fingers 118 have a relatively high radial profile. In combination, the expandable fingers 118 form a device commonly referred to as a Mallicot structure. Between the first, low profile position and the second, high profile position of the fingers 118, there exists a natural position described below with reference to Figure 6. The suture manipulating mechanism 114 also includes the finger tab 56 and a projection 123 which extends from the tab 56 through the groove 58 and into the channel 74 of the cannula 30. An elongate element 125 is fixed at its proximal end to the projection 123 and at its distal end to a flange 127 at the distal tip of the apparatus 10. This flange 127, which is apertured to receive the guidewire 18, is at least as large as the catheter 45 at the distal end 43 of the apparatus 10. It is the purpose of the finger tab 56, the element 125 and the flange 127 to move the fingers 118 between the low profile position and the high profile position. As the finger tab 56 is moved proximally, from the solid line position to the dotted line position in Figure 3, the element 125 is tensioned thereby drawing the distal 1 flange 127 proximally. This creates an axial compression force on the catheter 45 which causes each of the fingers 118 to buckle at its ends and at the associated living hinge 21 thereby resulting in expansion of the finger 118 forming the Mallicot structure. These fingers 118 can be maintained in the second, expanded position automatically by ensuring that the flange 107 associated with the finger tab 56 is appropriately lodged within the slot 61 associated with the groove 58. Thus, the finger tab 56 can be locked in the proximal, dotted position when the flange 107 falls into the slot 61 and the distally facing surface 111 of the flange 107 engages the proximally facing surface 63 of the slot 61. The resulting lock, which holds the tab 56 in its proximal position and holds the fingers 118 in their second expanded state, is released in a preferred embodiment when the tab 105 associated with the finger ring 54 and cylinder 103 engages the flange 107 forcing it out of the slot 61. When the lock is released, it is the natural tendency of the fingers 118 to move back toward the low profile state. This forces the distal flange 127 distally tensioning the element 125 and drawing the finger tab 56 distally, from the dotted position to the solid line position in Figure 3. Distal finger pressure on the tab 56 can also facilitate movement of the fingers 118 from the high profile state toward the low profile state if the elongate element 125 can accommodate a compressive load. This operation of the suture manipulating mechanism 114 and the expandable fingers 118 make this structure particularly useful in deploying the suture 72. As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the suture 72 includes free ends 130 and 132 which can be embedded in or near the living hinge 121 of adjacent fingers 118. Between the ends 130 and 132, the suture forms a suture loop 134 which is relatively long and extends from-the fingers 118 into the channel 70 of the catheter 45 and along substantially the entire length of the cannula 30 where it exits the catheter 45 through a pathway or hole 136. Exteriorly of the catheter 45, the suture loop 134 engages a suture tensioning device 138 in the form of a tab 141 formed in the wall of the cylinder 103. This tab 141 includes a post 143 which extends radially outwardly to receive the suture loop 134. The tab 141 is compressible radially inwardly by a projection 145 on the inner surface of the handle 37, best seen in Figure 3C. As the cylinder 103 moves axially, by operation of the finger ring 54, the projection 145 engages the tab 141 and moves it radially inwardly. This causes the suture 72 to clear the post 143 effectively dislodging the suture loop 134 from the tensioning device 138. This feature is particularly advantageous during operation of the apparatus 10 for reasons discussed in greater detail below. A preferred method for attaching the suture 72 to the fingers 118 can be best understood with reference to Figure 5A. In this embodiment, the fingers 118 are further designated by the reference numerals 152, 154, 156, and 158. In the view of Figure 5A, the fingers 152-158 are fully extended in the second position. The associated living hinges 121 are disposed at the bends of the fingers 152-158 where the fingers reach their maximum radial distance from the axis 38. With such an embodiment, the suture end 130 can be loosely embedded in the finger 154, the suture can then be led from the finger 154 and through a slit in the living hinge 121 associated with the finger 156. From this point, the suture loop 134 can be fed into the catheter 45 and along the length of the cannula 30. In a similar manner, the suture end 132 can be loosely embedded in the finger 152 and led through a slit in the living hinge 121 associated with the leg 158. With this orientation, each of the suture ends 130, 132 forms a short section of suture which extends between adjacent legs. Thus, the suture end 130 extends between adjacent legs 154, 156 to form a suture portion 159, while the suture end 132 extends between opposing adjacent legs 152, 158 to form a suture portion 160. Loading of the wound closure apparatus 10 can be accomplished during the final stage of manufacture. The finger tab 56 on the handle 37 is initially set to the distal position illustrated by the solid lines in Figure 3. This ensures that the fingers 118 forming the Mallicot structure arc in the low profile state. The suture 72 can then be mounted on the fingers 118 and the suture loop 134 and threaded through the channel 70 of the catheter 45. After exiting the hole 136 in the catheter 45, the suture loop 134 is disposed around the post 143 in the suture tensioner 138- Finally, the movable finger ring 54 is placed in its proximal position so that the needles 90, 92 are retracted into the associated bores 85, 87. The Touchy-Boast valve 65 can also be loosened to allow insertion over the guidewire 18. Operation of the wound closure apparatus is begun by inserting the catheter 45 into the wound 12. If the wound 12 is in the skin 23 of the patient 16, the catheter 45 is introduced directly into the wound 12. If however, as illustrated in Figure 1, the wound occurs in a body wall, such as the wall of the femoral artery 14, the small incision 21 can be made in the skin 23 in order to gain access to the artery 14. The guidewire 18 will typically have been placed through the incision 21 and wound 12 as part of the surgical procedure which developed the wound 12. With the guidewire 18 in place, the apparatus 10 can be positioned over the guidewire 18 so that the distal tip of the catheter 45 follows the guidewire through the incision 21 and the wound 12 into the artery 14. At this point, the graduations 47 on the cannula 30 will provide an indication of the depth of the artery 14 relative to the skin 23. Radiopaque markers on the catheter 45 can be useful to facilitate fluoroscopic guidance to an operative position. The Touchy-Boast valve 65 also provides a visual indication of Back bleeding which would evidence proper placement within a blood vessel- The valve 65 can also be provided with a T-fitting to facilitate injections of X-ray contrast media through the catheter 45. With reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the body wall, in this case a body wall 161 of the artery 14, has a near side 163 and a far side 165. Since access to the far side 165 of the body wall 161 is severely limited, it is of particular advantage to the present invention that wound closure can be achieved without direct access to the far side 165 except through the wound 12. In the preferred method, the catheter 45 is inserted through the wound 12 a distance sufficient that the fingers 118 forming a Mallicot structure are positioned on the far side 165 of the body wall 161. The cannula 30 including the needles 90 and 92, remain on the near side 163 of the body wall 161. With this orientation, it will be noted that the suture ends 130, 132 illustrated in Figure 4 are positioned on the far side 165 while the suture loop 134 is positioned on the near side 163 of the body wall 161. This preferred operative position for the apparatus 10 is achieved by operation of the handle 37 and associated stationary rings 52. With the apparatus 10 thus disposed, the fingers can be expanded from their first low profile state illustrated in ,Figure 3 to their second expanded state illustrated in Figure 4. Note that this expansion of the fingers 118 resulLs in the radial outward movement of the suture portion 159, 160. with the suture portions 159, 160 appropriately positioned, the needles 90, 92 can now be deplóyed. These needles 90, 92 are initially disposed in their associated bores 85, 87 on the near side 163 of the body wall 161. Deployment of the needles 90, 92 is accomplished by moving the finger ring 54 and associated cylinder 103 distally in the direction of an arrow 167 in Figure 5. The distally facing surface 101 of the cylinder 103 compresses the spring 98 which in turn exerts a force on the needle flange 94- This force, which is increased with further distal movement of the finger ring 54 against the bias of the spring 96, moves the needles 90, 92 beyond the distal surface 78 and through needle holes 170 and 172 respectively, in the body wall 161. Distal movement of the needles 90, 92 ceases when the flange 94 bottoms out on the proximal facing surface 79 of the plug 76. The needles 90, 92 each have a needle eye 176, 178 respectively, which in a preferred embodiment is in the form of a French eye. When the needles 90, 92 are fully extended, these eyes 176, 178 are preferably disposed on the far side 165 of the body wall 161 and beyond the suture portions 159, 160. With the suture portions 159, 160 in their radially extended position, the needles 90, 92 in their distal-most position, and the needle eyes 176, 178 facing the suture portions 159, 160, the suture 72 can now be manipulated to thread the needles 90, 92. In a preferred embodiment, this manipulation of the suture 72 is accomplished by further distal movement of the finger ring 54 to a second position where the tang 105, riding within the groove 58, engages the inclined surface 109 of the flange 107. This engagement of the flange 107 by the tang 105 releases the finger tab 56 from its locked proximal position. This relieves tension on the element 125 and enables the fingers 118 to radially compress naturally as the catheter 45 elongates. The radial compression of the fingers 118 moves the suture portions 159, 160 against the associated needles,90, 92 at a position proximal to the eyes 176, 178. Of course with the radial compression of the fingers 118, the distance between the adjacent living hinges 121 is reduced. This would normally cause the suture portions 159, 160 to become slack were it not for the suture tensioning mechanism 138 previously discussed. It will be noted that as the finger ring 54 is moved distally, the suture tensioning mechanism also moves distally. Since the hole 136 in the catheter 45 is disposed proximally of the tensioning mechanism 138, the distal movement of the mechanism 138 creates proximal movement of the suture loop through the catheter channel 70. This in turn tensions the suture portions 159 and 160 even as the fingers 118 are radially contracting. To this point, distal movement of the finger ring 54 has operated to deploy the needles 90, 92 in a first position, and to manipulate the fingers 118 in order to thread the needles in a second position of the finger ring 54. This manipulation of the fingers 118 in the second position is accomplished while tensioning the sutures 72 with the mechanism 138. Further distal movement of the finger fing 54 to a third position results in removal of the suture loop 134 from the post 143 of the tensioner 138. This has the effect of releasing the suture loop 134 from the apparatus 10 so that it is free to be drawn into the wound 12. This freeing of the suture loop 134 is accomplished as illustrated in Figure 3B when distal movement of the cylinder 103 brings the tab 141 into proximity with the projection 145 on the handle 37 - This interfering relationship causes the tab 141 to compress radially inwardly thus forcing the suture loop 134 from the post 143 as illustrated in Figure 3D. It will be noted at this point that movement of the finger ring 54 in a common distal direction operates to perform three sequential steps in a method for operating the apparatus 10. In a first step associated with first distal position of the ring 54, the needles 90, 92 are deployed to a position where they can be threaded. In a second step associated with a second position of the ring 54, the finger tab 56 is released thereby permitting contraction of the fingers 118 to facilitate threading the needles 90, 92. In a third step associated with a third position of the finger ring 54, the suture loop 134 is released from the tensioning mechanism 138 to facilitate withdrawal of the apparatus 10. With the suture portions 159, 160 tensioned radially against the needles 90, 92 proximally of the eyes 176, 178, the needles 90, 92 can now be retracted. Initially this retraction of the needles 90, 92 causes the tensioned suture portions 159, 160 to enter the eyes 176, 178. Further retraction of the needles 90, 92 withdraws the captured suture portions 159, 160 through the associated needle holes 170, 172 in the skin 23. At this point, both of the suture ends 130, 132, as well as the suture loop 134, are disposed on the near side 163 of the wall 161. The apparatus 10 can now be withdrawn from the wound 12. The needles 90, 92 are preferably retracted until the eyes 176, 178 enlarged by the presence of the suture portions 152, 154 are biased against the distal surface 78 at the distal end of the cannula 30. In this position of the needles 90, 92, illustrated in the enlarged view of Figure 6A, the suture ends 130, 132 are trapped between the respective needles 90, 92 and the cannula 30 due to return spring force. With the suture loop 134 released from the post 143 of the tensioner 138, removal of the apparatus 10 will draw the suture portions 159, 160 further away from the body wall 161 as illustrated in Figure 7. This causes the suture loop 134 to be drawn distally through the catheter 45 until it exits from between adjacent legs 156, 158 and is drawn through the wound 12 to the far side 165 of the body wall 161. Once the wound closure apparatus 10 has been fully removed from the wound 12, the suture ends 130, 132 can be removed or cut from the fingers 118 and tied with a surgeon's knot in a conventional manner. Such a knot can be pushed through the incision 21 and into proximity with the wound 12 as illustrated in Figure 8. An additional embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 10 and includes two needle pairs. The needles 90 and 92 previously discussed form one of the needle pairs while an additional needle pair comprises needles 201 and 203. In this case, the four needles 90, 92, 201 and 203 are displaced 90° from each other around the distal surface 78 of the cannula 30. The needle deployment (not shown in Figure 10) can be similar to that previously discussed where the four needles 90, 92, 201 and 203 are fixed to the common flange 94 (best illustrated in Figure 4) . This embodiment of the invention functions to simultaneously apply two sutures to the wound 12. The first suture can be that previously referenced with the numeral 72. This suture can be laced to the suture manipulating mechanism illustrated in Figure 9 in the same manner as discussed with reference to Figure 5. A second color-coded suture 205 can also be laced on to the legs 152-158 of the Mallicot structure in the manner illustrated in Figure 9. This suture 205 having a first end.207 and a second end 209 is also characterized by a suture loop portion 210. In a preferred method, the end 207 of the suture 205 is loosely held in the leg 154 of the Mallicot structure. The suture is then laced through the living hinge 121 and the leg 152 with the suture loop 210 extending into the channel associated with the catheter 45. As the suture loop exits this channel, it can be passed through the living hinge 121 associated with the leg 158. Finally, the end 209 of the second suture 205 can be loosely embedded in the leg 156. This configuration for the second suture 205 produces a suture portion 212 between the legs 152 and 154 and a second suture portion 214 between the legs 156 and 158. In this manner, the two sutures 72 and 205 can form the four suture portions 159, 160, 212 and 214 for the respective needles 90, 92, 201 and 203- The resulting suture deployment mechanism can be operated in the manner previously discussed to thread each of the four needles associated with the embodiment of Figure 10. The dual suture embodiment of the suture deployment mechanism illustrated in Figure 9, can also be used with the two needle embodiment of the apparatus 10 previously discussed. In a preferred method of operation, the two needles 90-92 can be operated in the manner previously discussed to capture the suture portions 159 and 160. Then the cannula 30 and needles 90, 92 can be rotated 90° to function with respect to the suture portions 212 and 214. Of course in this embodiment, means must be provided for rotating the cannula 30, and needles 90, 92 relative to the legs 152-158 forming the Mallicot structure. Figure 12 illustrates a further embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10. This embodiment includes the cannula 30 and catheter 45, as well as the fingers 118 and associated suture 72. The illustrated embodiment also includes the needles 90, 92, but in this case, the needle eyes (previously designated by the reference numerals 176, 178) are, not formed as French eyes, but rather as mere slots 221, 223. As compared to the French eyes previously discussed, the slots 221, 223 can be formed with a significantly lesser depth. As a result, the needles 90, 92 can provided with a much smaller diameter. The embodiment of Figure 12 provides for effective suture capture with the provision of suture capture needles 225 and 227. These needles 225 and 227 can be provided with a tubular configuration and a telescoping relationship with the associated needles 90, 92. The distal ends of the suture capture needles 225, 227 can be sharpened to facilitate their deployment through the body wall 17. Operation of the Figure 12 embodiment proceeds in the manner previously discussed with the needles 90, 92 being deployed through the body wall 17. with the more narrow configuration of the needles 90, 92, this step of deploying the needles should be more easily accomplished than in the Figure 5 embodiment. As the suture 72 is manipulated by the fingers 118 in the manner previously discussed, the suture 72 is drawn into the slots 221, 223 of the respective needles 90, 92. At this point, the suture capture needles 225, 227 can be deployed by moving them distally along the associated needles 90, 92. As the distal end of the capture needles 225, 227 approach the slots 221, 223, the suture 72 is pinched between the associated needles 90, 225 and 92, 227. With the suture 72 appropriately captured in the slots 221, 223, the needles 90, 92 and associated capture needles 225, 227 can be withdrawn toward the cannula 30. Preferably after the needles 90, 92 and 225, 227 have cleared the body wall 17, the entire apparatus 10 can be withdrawn from the wound 12 as the method of closure continues in the manner previously described. Figures 13A-13C illustrate another embodiment of the wound closure apparatus 10. This embodiment includes a suture deployment mechanism which is substantially identical to the suture deployment mechanism 114 shown in Figures 3 and 4, including the finger tab 56, which is lockable in its proximal position, and the tab 105 on the finger ring 54, which releases the finger tab 56 from its locked position when the finger ring 54 is moved distally. In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, as also described in co-pending European application EP 785 752, where the suture tensioner 138 is integral with the needle deployment cylinder 103 and the finger ring 54, the embodiment of Figures 13A-13C includes a suture carriage 230 which is releasably secured to the finger ring 54 by a detent 232 which extends proximally from the suture carriage 230 to engage a shoulder 234 formed on a distal portion of the finger ring 54. The suture carriage 230 also includes a tab 141 and radially compressible post 143 which receive and release the suture loop 134 as shown in figures 3C and 3D in connection with the first embodiment. However, while the suture loop 134 in the embodiment of Figure 3 exits the catheter at a point proximal to the suture tensioner 138 and is doubled over ánd extended downwardly to engage the post 143 in the manner of a pulley, the suture loop 134 according to the embodiment of Figures 13A-13C exits the catheter at a point distal to the suture carriage 230 and extends upwardly over the post 143 in a more direct manner. As in the embodiment of Figures 3-5, the needles of the wound closure apparatus 10 of Figures 13A-13C extend from the distal side of a flange 94 (not shown in Figures 113A-13C) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula. However, the needle control cylinder 103 of the embodiment of Figures 3-5 is replaced in this embodiment with a needle control rod 236 extending proximally from the proximal side of the flange 94. The finger ring 54 is coupled to the control rod 236 by a pair of axially spaced flanges 238, 240 which allow the finger ring 54 to slide between a distal point wherein a distal surface 242 of the distal flange 240 engages a drive block 244 formed on the control rod 236 and a proximal point, wherein a proximal surface 248 of the distal flange 240 engages a return block 250 formed on the control rod. , Operation of the wound closure apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of Figures 13A-C is as follows. First, as in the previous embodiment, the catheter 45 is inserted into the wound 12 a distance sufficient to position the fingers 118 forming the Mallicot structure (not shown in Figures 13A-13C) on the far side of the body wall. The finger tab 56 can be locked into its proximal position to hold the Mallicot fingers in their expander state so that free ends of the suture 72 extend radially outwardly. Next, the finger ring 54 is moved distally to deploy the needles distally through the body wall 161. Distal movement of the needles begins when the distal surface of the distal flange 240 of the finger ring 54 contacts the drive block 244 of the needle control rod 236, as shown in Figure 13A, and ceases when the distal surface 252 of the finger ring 54 bottoms out on the proximal surface 254 of the suture carriage 230. At this point the detent 232 on the suture carriage 230 engages the shoulder 234 on the finger ring 54, as shown in Figure 13B. The ends of the suture are now extended radially outwardly and aligned with the eyes of needles. With the suture thus positioned, the finger tab 56 can be released from its locked position, allowing the fingers of the Mallicot structure to compress to their natural position, thus moving the ends of the suture into the eyes of needles. Next, the finger ring 54 is moved proximally, causing the suture carriage 230 to also move proximally, thereby tensioning the suture. The finger ring 54 continues to slide proximally along the needle control rod 236 until the proximal surface 248 of the distal flange 240 contacts the return block 250 of the needle control rod 236, thus causing the needle control rod 236 and the needles to move proximally as well. Suture tensioning and needle withdrawal now continue simultaneously. This results in more reliable capture of the suture ends in the needle eyes than in the previous embodiment, where needle withdrawal does not occur until after the suture has been released from the tensioner. Further proximal movement of the finger ring 54 causes the tab 141 of the suture carriage 230 to be brought into proximity with a projection 145 (not shown in Figures 13A-C) on the handle 37 of the device 10, thus compressing the tab 141 and releasing the suture loop 134 in the same fashion as illustrated in Figure 3D and as described earlier in connection with the previous embodiment. The finger ring continues to be moved proximally, retracting the needles, until the proximal flange 238 of the finger ring 54 abuts the proximal end of the housing handle cavity, as shown in Figure 13C. The wound closure apparatus 10 can then be removed from the wound 12 and the ends of the suture tied in a conventional manner, as in the previous embodiment. Figures 14A-14E are schematic illustrations of a method of using the wound closure device 10 of the present invention to place a suture in a wound before a surgical procedure. Initially, a guide wire 18 is inserted into the skin 23 of a patient, through a layer of fat 254, and through the wall 161 of a body vessel such as a femoral artery 14, as shown in Figure 14A. Next, the flexible catheter 45 at the distal end of the wound closure device 10 of the present, invention is introduced over the guidewire 18, as shown in Figure 14B. The wound closure device 10 is now manipulated as earlier described, and shown in greater detail in Figures 15A-15C, to place a suture 72 in the wound. Specifically, the needles 90, 92 are first deployed through the wall 161 and the suture manipulating mechanism 114 is deployed to radially expand the end portions 159, 160 of the suture 72 in the proximity of the needle eyes 176, 178, as shown in Figure 15B. Next, the needles 90, 92 are retracted and the suture loop 134 is drawn proximally to tension the suture 72, as shown in Figure 15B. At this point, the fingers 118 of the Mallicot structure have been withdrawn from the wound 12, yet a significant length of the catheter 45 still remains in the vessel 14, thus ensuring that the wound 12 will remain plugged and blood will be prevented from escaping from the vessel 14 until the suture 134 has been properly placed. Finally, the suture loop 134 is released and drawn into place against the far side of the wound and the distal end of the catheter 45 is withdrawn from the vessel 14, as shown in Figure 15C. Returning now to Figure 14C, after the suture 72 has been placed, the guidewire 18 is repositioned as necessary, and the ends 130, 132, of the suture 72 are retrieved through the opening 256 formed in the skin 23 by the device 10. Next, a dilator 258 is introduced over the guidewire 18 and the wound 12 is enlarged to accommodate an access sheath of a size appropriate for the desired surgical procedure, as shown in Figure 14D. Once the procedure has been completed, the sheath and the guidewire 18 are withdrawn, and the ends 130, 132 of the suture 72 tied to one another to close the wound, as shown in Figure 14E. The above method places the suture in the wound before dilation takes place, it allows a single, relatively small diameter (ie. 6-8 French) wound closure device 10 to be used for a wide range of procedures using different sized access sheaths (for instance, up to 10-12 French). This is in direct contrast to conventional methods which place the suture in the wound after dilation, and thus require a number of wound closure devices of different sheath sizes to be made available in order to fit in the various-sized wounds. Given the wide variations in the concept embodied in the foregoing apparatus and methods, one is cautioned not to restrict the invention to the embodiments which have been specifically disclosed and illustrated, but rather is encouraged to determine the scope of the invention only with reference to the following claims.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, LI, DK, FI, GR, IE, LU, MC, PT, SE A wound closure apparatus (10) for suturing a wound (12) in a body wall, comprising a cannula (30) having an axis extending between a proximal end (41) and a distal end (43), a handle (37) disposed at the proximal end of the cannula (30), a catheter (45) coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall, a pair of needles (90,92) movable from a proximal position in or in proximity to the cannula to a distal position in proximity to the catheter, each of the needles having a proximal end and a distal end, a suture (72) having a first end (130), a second end (132), and a suture loop (134) disposed between the first and second ends, a suture manipulator (114,118) in the catheter for containing the suture ends and moving the suture ends relative to the needles, and actuation means mounted for reciprocation in cannula, the actuation means including first means (54, 103,98,94) for cooperating with the needles to move the needles from the proximal position to the distal position and second means (105,107,56,125,118) for cooperating with the suture manipulator to move the suture ends into threading engagement with the needles. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wound closure apparatus further comprises a suture tensioning mechanism (138) for releasably supporting the suture loop (134), the suture tensioning mechanism being mounted for reciprocation in the cannula (30), and the actuation means further comprises third means (141,143) for cooperating with the suture tensioning mechanism to prevent the suture from slackening. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a needle deployment mechanism (54,103,98,94,96) in the cannula (30) for controlling movement of the needles (90,92) between said proximal position and said distal position and comprising a suture tensioning mechanism (138) for releasably supporting the suture loop (134) and preventing slackening of the suture (72), wherein said actuation means cooperate with the suture manipulator (114,118), the needle deployment mechanism and the suture tensioning mechanism to control deployment, threading, and retraction of the needles, and to maintain sufficient tension on the suture as the needles are being deployed, threaded and withdrawn. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the actuation means comprises an actuator including first engagement means (54) for engaging the needle deployment mechanism, second engagement means (145) for engaging the suture tensioning mechanism, and third engagement means (105) for engaging the suture manipulator. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the needle deployment mechanism includes drive means (94,98) for cooperating with the first engagement means to control distal movement of the needles; and return means (96) for cooperating with the first engagement means to control proximal movement of the needles. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is mounted for sliding movement between a first position wherein the first engagement means engages the drive means of the needle deployment mechanism to initiate distal movement of the needles, a second position wherein the second engagement means engages the suture tensioning means, and a third position wherein the first engagement means engages the return means of the needle deployment mechanism to initiate proximal movement of the needles. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second position is located distally of the first position; and the third position is located proximally of the first and second positions. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the needle deployment mechanism comprises a needle support assembly, the needle support assembly including a flange (94) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula (30), the flange having a proximal side and a distal side, the distal side supporting the proximal ends of the needles (90,92), a control rod (236) extending proximally from the proximal side of the flange, a drive block (244) projecting radially from the control rod, and a return block (250) projecting radially from the control rod and located proximally of the drive block. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the actuation means comprises an actuator (54) mounted for sliding movement on the control rod and a flange (240) extending from the actuator, the flange having a distal side (242) for engaging the drive block (244) on the control rod to push the needle support assembly distally in response to distal movement of the actuator, and a proximal side (248) for engaging the return block (250) on the control rod to push the needle support assembly proximally in response to proximal movement of the actuator. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suture tensioning mechanism includes a suture carriage (230) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula (30) and located distally of the actuator (54) and a detent (232) extending proximally from the suture carriage, wherein the second engagement means includes a shoulder (234) formed on a distal portion of the actuator for engaging the detent on the suture carriage when the actuator is moved into the second position, whereby movement of the actuator from the second position to the third position causes the suture tensioning mechanism to move proximally to tension the suture. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the suture manipulator comprises a plurality of flexible legs (118) formed in the catheter (45), the legs having a first radially contracted position and a second radially extended position and being biassed to the first radially contracted position, and control means (56,125,127) for moving the legs from the first radially contracted position to the second radially expanded position. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control means comprises a tab (56) mounted for movement on the cannula, an elongate element (125) having a proximal end coupled to the tab and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter (45), the elongate element exerting a compressive force on the catheter when the tab is moved from a distal position to a proximal position, thereby causing the legs (118) to move to the second radially extended position, and locking means (61,107) for releasably locking the tab in the proximal position. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the actuation means comprises an actuator (54) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula and a finger (105) extending from the actuator and engaging the tab (56) to release the locking means, allowing the tab to move to the proximal position and the legs to move to the first radially contracted position in response to distal movement of the actuator. Claims for the following Contracting States : DE, ES, FR, GB, IT, NL A wound closure apparatus (10) for suturing a wound (12) in a body wall, comprising a cannula (30) having an axis extending between a proximal end (41) and a distal end (43), a handle (37) disposed at the proximal end of the cannula (30), a catheter (45) coupled to the distal end of the cannula, the catheter being sized and configured to extend through the wound in the body wall, a pair of needles (90,92) movable from a proximal position in or in proximity to the cannula to a distal position in proximity to the catheter, each of the needles having a proximal end and a distal end, a suture (72) having a first end (130), a second end (132), and a suture loop (134) disposed between the first and second ends, a suture manipulator (114,118) in the catheter for containing the suture ends and moving the suture ends relative to the needles, and actuation means mounted for reciprocation in cannula, the actuation means including first means (54, 103,98,94) for cooperating with the needles to move the needles from the proximal position to the distal position and second means (105,107,56,125,118) for cooperating with the suture manipulator to move the suture ends into threading engagement with the needles, wherein the wound closure apparatus further comprises a suture tensioning mechanism (138) for releasably supporting the suture loop (134), the suture tensioning mechanism including a suture carriage (230) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula (30) and releasably secured to an actuator (54) associated with the actuation means. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuation means further comprises third means (141,143) for cooperating with the suture tensioning mechanism to prevent the suture from slackening. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a needle deployment mechanism (54,103,98,94,96) in the cannula (30) for controlling movement of the needles (90,92) between said proximal position and said distal position and comprising a suture tensioning mechanism (138) for releasably supporting the suture loop (134) and preventing slackening of the suture (72), wherein said actuation means cooperate with the suture manipulator (114,118), the needle deployment mechanism and the suture tensioning mechanism to control deployment, threading, and retraction of the needles, and to maintain sufficient tension on the suture as the needles are being deployed, threaded and withdrawn. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the actuator includes first engagement means (54) for engaging the needle deployment mechanism, second engagement means (145) for engaging the suture tensioning mechanism, and third engagement means (105) for engaging the suture manipulator. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the needle deployment mechanism includes drive means (94,98) for cooperating with the first engagement means to control distal movement of the needles; and return means (96) for cooperating with the first engagement means to control proximal movement of the needles. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is mounted for sliding movement between a first position wherein the first engagement means engages the drive means of the needle deployment mechanism to initiate distal movement of the needles, a second position wherein the second engagement means engages the suture tensioning means, and a third position wherein the first engagement means engages the return means of the needle deployment mechanism to initiate proximal movement of the needles. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second position is located distally of the first position; and the third position is located proximally of the first and second positions. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the needle deployment mechanism comprises a needle support assembly, the needle support assembly including a flange (94) mounted for reciprocation in the cannula (30), the flange having a proximal side and a distal side, the distal side supporting the proximal ends of the needles (90,92), a control rod (236) extending proximally from the proximal side of the flange, a drive block (244) projecting radially from the control rod, and a return block (250) projecting radially from the control rod and located proximally of the drive block. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the actuator (54) is mounted for sliding movement on the control rod and a flange (240) extending from the actuator, the flange having a distal side (242) for engaging the drive block (244) on the control rod to push the needle support assembly distally in response to distal movement of the actuator, and a proximal side (248) for engaging the return block (250) on the control rod to push the needle support assembly proximally in response to proximal movement of the actuator. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detent (232) extends proximally from the suture carriage, wherein the second engagement means includes a shoulder (234) formed on a distal portion of the actuator for engaging the detent on the suture carriage when the actuator is moved into the second position, whereby movement of the actuator from the second position to the third position causes the suture tensioning mechanism to move proximally to tension the suture. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the suture manipulator comprises a plurality of flexible legs (118) formed in the catheter (45), the legs having a first radially contracted position and a second radially extended position and being biassed to the first radially contracted position, and control means (56,125,127) for moving the legs from the first radially contracted position to the second radially expanded position. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control means comprises a tab (56) mounted for movement on the cannula, an elongate element (125) having a proximal end coupled to the tab and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter (45), the elongate element exerting a compressive force on the catheter when the tab is moved from a distal position to a proximal position, thereby causing the legs (118) to move to the second radially extended position, and locking means (61,107) for releasably locking the tab in the proximal position. The wound closure apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a finger (105) extends from the actuator and engages the tab (56) to release the locking means, allowing the tab to move to the proximal position and the legs to move to the first radially contracted position in response to distal movement of the actuator.

Inventors: BUELNA TERRENCE J, LUBOCK PAUL, NODA WAYNE A, BUELNA, TERRENCE J., LUBOCK, PAUL, NODA, WAYNE A.
Applicants: MEDTRONIC AVE INC, MEDTRONIC AVE, INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17