Patent ID: 8623048

Claim:
A suturing device comprising: a) a curved needle; b) a needle rotation drive for driving the needle through a circular path and an antirotate member defining a body for controlling the direction of needle rotation, the curved needle including: (i) a curved toroidal body that defines a longitudinal axis along the curved toroidal body, wherein the longitudinal axis defines a center point; wherein the curved toroidal body includes a radially rear surface, a radially outer surface, a first sharp pointed end and a second end, and wherein the longitudinal axis and the center point of the curved toroidal body define a first plane; (ii) a first notch located proximate the first sharp pointed end of the curved needle and on the radially rear surface of the curved needle, the first notch including a first engagement surface configured for engaging the needle rotation drive, wherein the first engagement surface is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane and wherein the first engagement surface lies on the same geometric plane as a first cross sectional plane of the curved toroidal body, wherein the first cross sectional plane is also positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane, wherein the first notch opens in a first direction away from the center point defined by the longitudinal axis of the toroidal body, and wherein the first direction is not in the first plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the center point; and (iii) a second notch located on the curved needle, the second notch including a second engagement surface, wherein the second engagement surface is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane and lies on the same geometric plane of a second cross sectional plane of the curved toroidal body, wherein the second cross sectional plane is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane, and wherein the second engagement surface is configured for engaging the body of the anti-rotate member for controlling the direction of needle rotation, wherein the second notch opens in a second direction away from the center point defined by the longitudinal axis of the toroidal body, and wherein the second direction is not in the first plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the center point.