Patent ID: 8591528

Claim:
A suture system configured to place suture in tissue, the suture system comprising: a tool comprising a head having a proximal portion housing a needle and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat, the needle is movable through a needle exit port formed in the proximal portion of the head to a cavity formed in the distal end of the head; and a suture assembly comprising a length of suture connected to a suture cap, the suture cap comprising an annular wall that forms a hollow tubular section, and a tubular sleeve inserted between an inner surface and an outer surface of the annular wall parallel with the hollow tubular section, with an end of the length of suture inserted into and connected to the tubular sleeve; wherein the suture cap is sized to be retained in the cavity formed in the distal end of the head of the tool and the needle is operable to engage with the hollow tubular section of the suture cap and extract the suture cap out of the cavity and deliver the suture cap to the needle exit port.