Patent ID: 8252007

Claim:
A suturing method for suturing a tissue of a patient, the method comprising: inserting a distal portion of a suturing needle distally through the tissue by moving a body of a suturing device while a first clamp of the suturing device holds a proximal portion of the needle at a fixed location and orientation relative to the body of the device, the first clamp in an extended grasping position relative to the body while holding the needle, wherein the first clamp includes a clamp assembly having a first shaft with a shaft axis, and wherein in the extended grasping position, the first clamp holds the needle offset laterally from the first shaft; grasping the distal portion of the inserted needle with a second clamp of the suturing device; releasing the proximal portion of the needle from the first clamp; after releasing the proximal portion of the needle, moving the first clamp away from the needle and from the extended grasping position to a retracted position by axially moving the first clamp away from the needle and closer to the body so that the proximal portion of the needle is axially separated from the clamp and by rotating the first clamp away from the needle so as to rotate the clamp laterally away from the needle, wherein the first clamp moves axially using axial movement of the first shaft relative to the body, and wherein the first clamp rotates using rotation of the first shaft relative to the body; and after moving the first clamp away from the needle, pulling the proximal portion of the needle through the tissue by moving the body while the second clamp holds the needle at the fixed location.