Patent ID: 8123764

Claim:
A suturing device comprising a suturing head, the suturing head comprising: a) a housing having a proximal end, a distal end and a side surface, the side surface defining a gap for receiving tissue to be sutured therein, the housing defining a circular needle track therein surrounding the gap, the needle track being disposed in a plane that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the suturing head, the needle track including an arcuate needle disposed therein, the needle track being adapted and configured to guide the needle along a curved path in excess of 360° about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suturing head, the needle having: i) a curved body, the curved body covering an arc greater than about 180°; and ii) an engagement surface for driving the needle including a drive notch formed in a surface of the needle, the notch defining a projection lying the plane that contains the needle track; and b) a drive disposed at least partially within the housing, wherein the drive includes an elongate flexible linkage having a proximal end extending outwardly from the proximal end of the suture head and a distal end including a pawl having a drive pin that is movable with respect to the elongate flexible linkage, the pin being biased to move along a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the suturing head by a spring contained in a chamber in the pawl, at least a portion of the elongate flexible linkage being adapted and configured to reciprocate along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the drive pin of the elongate flexible linkage being further adapted and configured to engage the drive notch on the engagement surface of the needle and advance the needle through a circular arc as the elongate flexible linkage is advanced along the longitudinal axis.