Patent ID: 8034060

Claim:
A suture insertion device, comprising: a shaft, having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, which is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity; first and second needles, which are configured to hold respective first and second ends of a suture thread; first and second needle guides, which are attached to the shaft and respectively hold the first and second needles, the needle guides having a first operative configuration in which the needle guides are held parallel to the axis, while pointing the needles in a distal direction, for insertion of the shaft into the body cavity and a second operative configuration in which the needle guides are deployed outward from the shaft within the body cavity so as to point the needles in a proximal direction; and an ejector, which is operative to eject the needles from the needle guides in the second operative configuration so as to cause the needles to penetrate tissue adjoining the body cavity, wherein in the second operative configuration, the needle guides curve out of the shaft so as to point in the proximal direction toward the shaft, so that the needles strike the shaft after passing through the tissue, and wherein the shaft comprises a needle trap, for capturing and holding the needles when the needles strike the shaft.