Patent ID: 8608759

Claim:
A medical device for suturing biological tissue with a suture needle, comprising: a shaft; a first guide member having an arcuate profile and configured to be positioned proximate the biological tissue, the first guide member including a first portion rotatably coupled about an outer surface of the shaft at a first location, a second portion rotatably coupled about the outer surface of the shaft at a second location, spaced from the first location, and at least one suture guide configured to direct the suture needle along a path extending through the biological tissue, the at least one suture guide extending from a first open end, configured to receive the suture needle, to a second open end, configured to receive the suture needle, the at least one suture guide removable from the biological tissue following suturing of the biological tissue, wherein the first portion of the first guide member is movable along the shaft relative to the second location, the first guide member being configured to flex upon movement of the first portion to change an arcuate profile defined laterally between the first and second locations of the shaft; and an external needle guide having first and second portions configured to be positioned proximate the respective first and second locations on the shaft and arranged so that the biological tissue is at least partially located between the external needle guide and the first guide member, the external needle guide being cannulated and including openings configured to receive the suture needle after the suture needle passes through the biological tissue, wherein the external needle guide includes a slot extending from a location at or near the first end to a location at or near the second end such that the external needle guide has a substantially C-shaped cross-section, the plurality of openings of the external needle guide being positioned opposite the slot.