Patent ID: 7608084

Claim:
A tissue suturing instrument comprising: (a) a tissue grasping mechanism including a static grasping member and a pivotal grasping member designed and configured for grasping a tissue, said pivotal grasping member carrying a suture holder for positioning a suture on a first side of said tissue grasped thereby; (b) a crochet head slidably carried by said static grasping member and slidable in a rectilinear path parallel to said static grasping member through a forward stroke and a return stroke, said crochet head being designed and configured for piercing through said tissue from a second side thereof during said forward stroke, engaging said suture following said piercing, and drawing said suture through said tissue during said return stroke; and (c) a frame assembly including a proximal section formed with a first handle and a distal section carrying said tissue grasping mechanism and said crochet head, said proximal section and said distal section being connected by an elongated shank.