Patent ID: 8398660

Claim:
A suturing instrument comprising: an elongate member including a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; a distal portion pivotably coupled to the distal end of the elongate member via an articulation joint and defining a needle exit port, the distal portion biased in a configuration extending along the longitudinal axis; and an actuation mechanism for offsetting the distal portion from the longitudinal axis, the actuation mechanism comprising an external sheath slideably disposed about the elongate member, the sheath positioned in contact with the distal portion to offset the distal portion from the longitudinal axis, whereby when the sheath is slid in a distal direction relative to the elongate member the distal portion is offset from the longitudinal axis, and whereby sliding the sheath in a proximal direction allows the distal portion to return to its biased position along the longitudinal axis.