Patent ID: 7918868

Claim:
Apparatus for suturing tissue, wherein the apparatus comprises: a housing; a first needle mounted to the housing; a second needle mounted to the housing, the second needle defining a slot that extends completely through the second needle, the slot being positioned such that a distalmost end of the slot is positioned proximal to a distalmost end of the second needle; a suture having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion mounted to the first needle when the leading portion is in an initial position; a first structure associated with the first needle for passing the leading portion of the suture from the first needle to the second needle after the first needle, with the leading portion of the suture mounted thereto, has been positioned within the tissue; and a second structure associated with the second needle, the second structure configured to retain the leading portion of the suture within the slot such that, when the apparatus is removed from the tissue, the leading portion of the suture is carried by the second needle out of the tissue.