Patent ID: 8083754

Claim:
A method of suturing vascular tissue adjacent an opening in a vascular vessel, said method comprising: inserting a suturing device through the opening in the vascular vessel, said suturing device comprising: a proximal member having a needle channel and a first needle and a second needle therein, said first needle and said second needle carrying a length of suture material; a distal member configured to be inserted into the lumen of the vascular vessel, the distal member having a receptacle comprising a needle capture element and being sized to receive said first needle and said second needle therein, the needle capture member including an interior wall portion and a first plurality of projections and a second plurality of projections, the first and second pluralities of projections extending at an angle away from the interior wall portion toward a distal end of the distal member, the first plurality of projections being longitudinally offset from the second plurality of projections; and an intermediate member disposed between the proximal member and the distal member, the intermediate member defining a tissue receiving area and configured to provide a linear needle pathway between the channel and the receptacle; advancing said first needle distally along the needle channel to pierce the vascular tissue and draw a portion of the length of suture material through the vascular tissue; and engaging said first needle with the needle capture element in the receptacle by inserting said first needle between the first and/or second plurality of projections.