Patent ID: 8858574

Claim:
A suturing instrument comprising: an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and comprising a distal end; a distal portion coupled to the elongate member at the distal end and defining a needle exit port, the distal portion configured to move from a first position, in which the distal portion aligns with the longitudinal axis, to a second position, in which the distal portion moves away from the longitudinal axis, the distal portion including a needle catch configured to receive a needle when the needle is advanced out of the needle exit port; and an actuation mechanism including an actuator, a slideable push rod, and a biasing member operatively coupled to the push rod and the elongate member, the biasing member being disposed within the elongate member, the push rod configured to engage the distal portion and move the distal portion from the first position to the second position upon activation of the actuator, the biasing member configured to bias the push rod proximally upon releasing the actuator, the actuator configured to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the actuator configured to advance the needle out of the needle exit port and move the distal portion away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.