Patent ID: 7232448

Claim:
A tissue stitching device, comprising: a hollow frame having an interior cavity; a handle mounted to the frame; a trigger member pivotally mounted to the handle; an elongated tube mounted to the frame, said tube having a distal end, a proximal end and an interior passage; a cannula needle slidably mounted in the cavity of the frame and the passage of the elongated tube, said cannula needle having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, an opening in the distal end, a longitudinal axis and a piercing point extending from the distal end; a needle member mounted in the passage of the elongated tube having a distal end; a capture needle extending from the distal end of the needle member, said capture needle having a distal piercing point and a suture capture opening, wherein the capture needle is oriented such that the longitudinal axis of the cannula needle intersects the capture opening; an engagement member slidably mounted in the interior cavity of the frame; and, a helical spring mounted in the cavity such that compression of the spring provides a proximal biasing force on the engagement member, wherein the trigger member engages the engagement member, and rotation of the trigger member causes the engagement member and cannula needle to move distally such that the distal end of the cannula needle moves through the suture capture opening.