Patent ID: 7736372

Claim:
A method for endoscopically suturing a region of tissue, comprising: endoscopically advancing an elongate tubular member to the region of tissue; engaging the region of tissue with a tissue engagement device comprising a pair of jaws and a flexible tube extending from a distal end of the elongate tubular member; approximating the tissue relative to the elongate tubular member via the tissue engagement device; using the approximating motion to simultaneously curve a distal end of a deployment tubular member extending from the elongate tubular member via a linkage pivotably connecting the tissue engagement device and the deployment tubular member such that a distal tip of the deployment tubular member is aligned substantially transversely with the tissue; deploying a needle body and a length of suture depending therefrom at least partially into or through the tissue from the deployment tubular member; rotating the deployment tubular member and the flexible tube about a longitudinal axis of the pair of jaws while the tissue engaging device is engaging the region of tissue; and grasping the deployed needle body with a needle grasper slidably positioned within the deployment tubular member.