A suturing apparatus for suturing a patent foramen ovale, comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end configured to be delivered percutaneously into the patent foramen ovale; at least a first suture clasp arm adapted to hold a first suture end portion, the first suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around one of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale; and at least a first suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the first suture catch mechanism being movable through one of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the first suture catch mechanism with the first suture end portion held by the first suture clasp arm when the first suture clasp arm is in the extended position; a first guidewire extending longitudinally through a first guidewire lumen in the elongate body and advanceable from a first guidewire opening at the distal end of the elongate body; at least a second suture clasp arm adapted to hold a second suture end portion, the second suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around the other of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale; and a second suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the second suture catch mechanism being moveable through the other of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the second suture catch mechanism with the second suture end portion held by the second suture clasp arm when the second suture clasp arm is in the extended position; a second guidewire extending longitudinally through a second guidewire lumen in the elongate body and advanceable from a second guidewire opening in the elongate body, the second guidewire opening being positioned proximal of the distal end of the elongate body and such that when the second guidewire is advanced from the second guidewire opening into the superior vena cava, the elongate member is directed toward the center of the septum secundum as the elongate member is advanced; and characterised by a first neddle guide configured to deflect the first suture catch mechanism when the first suture catch mechanism moves in the proximal-to-distal direction; and a second needle guide configured to deflect the second suture catch mechanism when the second suture catch mechanism moves in the distal-to-proximal direction. an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end configured to be delivered percutaneously into the patent foramen ovale; at least a first suture clasp arm adapted to hold a first suture end portion, the first suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around one of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale; and at least a first suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the first suture catch mechanism being movable through one of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the first suture catch mechanism with the first suture end portion held by the first suture clasp arm when the first suture clasp arm is in the extended position; a first guidewire extending longitudinally through a first guidewire lumen in the elongate body and advanceable from a first guidewire opening at the distal end of the elongate body; at least a second suture clasp arm adapted to hold a second suture end portion, the second suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around the other of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale; and a second suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the second suture catch mechanism being moveable through the other of the septum primum and septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the second suture catch mechanism with the second suture end portion held by the second suture clasp arm when the second suture clasp arm is in the extended position; a second guidewire extending longitudinally through a second guidewire lumen in the elongate body and advanceable from a second guidewire opening in the elongate body, the second guidewire opening being positioned proximal of the distal end of the elongate body and such that when the second guidewire is advanced from the second guidewire opening into the superior vena cava, the elongate member is directed toward the center of the septum secundum as the elongate member is advanced; and characterised by a first neddle guide configured to deflect the first suture catch mechanism when the first suture catch mechanism moves in the proximal-to-distal direction; and a second needle guide configured to deflect the second suture catch mechanism when the second suture catch mechanism moves in the distal-to-proximal direction.