Patent ID: 7625386

Claim:
A medical suturing tool ( 10 ) comprising: an insertion puncture needle ( 13 ) formed with an insertion hole ( 13 a ) extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof; a retrieval puncture needle ( 14 ) disposed substantially in parallel with the insertion puncture needle at a predetermined distance therefrom; a surgical suture ( 16 ) extending from the proximal end of the insertion puncture needle through the distal end and then engaged with the distal end of the retrieval puncture needle ( 14 ) via an engaging portion ( 15 ), wherein pulling on the suture causes the engaging portion to emerge from the insertion needle ( 13 ) and extend across to the retrieval needle ( 14 ) so that, with withdrawal of the retrieval needle ( 14 ), the suture is advanced from a puncture made by the insertion needle ( 13 ) to a puncture made by the retrieval needle ( 14 ); an elongate opening ( 18 ) provided on a surface of the insertion puncture needle ( 13 ) opposing to the retrieval puncture needle ( 14 ) in communication with the insertion hole ( 13 a ); an engaging member ( 15 ) being capable of moving in the insertion hole of the insertion puncture needle and, when having reached a predetermined position in the insertion hole, bending from the side of the upper end portion thereof to project outside from the elongate opening; and an engaging groove ( 19 ) provided on a surface of the retrieval puncture needle ( 14 ) opposing to the insertion puncture needle ( 13 ), wherein the surgical suture ( 16 ) is connected to the lower end of the engaging member so that the suturing tool engages with the engaging groove on the retrieval puncture needle after having passed from the proximal end to the distal end of the insertion puncture needle together with the engaging member; wherein the upper end portion ( 15 a ) of the engaging member is thicker than the lower side portion 15 b of the engaging member, the elongate opening of the insertion puncture needle ( 13 ) including a wide upper portion ( 18 a ) through which the upper end portion of the engaging member can pass and a narrow lower portion ( 18 b ) through which the upper end portion of the engaging member cannot pass and the lower side portion of the engaging member can pass, and the engaging groove of the retrieval puncture needle ( 14 ) including a wide upper portion ( 19 a ) through which the upper end portion of the engaging member can enter and a narrow lower portion ( 19 ) through which the upper end portion of the engaging member cannot pass but the lower side portion can enter.