Patent ID: 7150750

Claim:
A device for suturing an opening in an internal organ of a patient, comprising: a first catheter for insertion to an opening to be sealed through a working channel of an endoscope, a distal portion of the first catheter including a first hinge formed a predetermined distance from a distal end thereof and a second hinge formed proximally of the first hinge so that, when the distal end of the first catheter contacts a tissue, the distal portion of the first catheter folds into a radially expanded configuration; a plurality of anchoring members received within the first catheter, each of the anchoring members including a shaft extending from a tissue penetrating distal tip to a suture receiving proximal end and a gripping arm moveable between an insertion configuration in which the gripping arm is folded against the shaft and a gripping configuration in which the gripping arm extends away from the shaft; a first one of the anchoring members including a contact pressure mechanism which releases the gripping arm of the first anchoring member from the insertion configuration when the distal tip of the first anchoring member penetrates the tissue; a driving member extending through the first catheter to a proximal end thereof, wherein advancing the driving member distally into the first catheter advances the anchoring members distally through the first catheter to drive a distal-most one of the anchoring members out of the first catheter to anchor in the tissue; and a length of suture extending between the suture receiving proximal ends of the anchoring members.