Patent ID: 8864778

Claim:
An apparatus for suturing a body lumen, the apparatus comprising: a flexible elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of needle lumens extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, wherein the flexible elongated member comprises an elongated subsection spanning from the end of the needle lumens in the elongated member to a barrel portion comprising corresponding needle lumens on the proximal end of the elongated member, the elongated subsection providing sufficient space between the needles and the barrel portion to allow transapical insertion of the elongated member, the barrel portion comprising an outer surface and a distal surface extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the flexible elongated member, the distal surface including one or more semi-circular openings; a plurality of needles disposed within and advanceable from the plurality of needle lumens in the flexible elongated member across the elongated subsection, through the one or more semi-circular openings, to one or more corresponding needle lumens in the barrel portion; and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongated member, the handle being operable to retract one or more of the plurality of needles through the needle lumens of the elongated member across the elongated subsection toward the handle at the proximal end, the barrel portion including a barrel opening through the outer surface of the barrel portion connected to the semi-circular openings through which the needles are withdrawn.