Patent ID: 8246636

Claim:
A system for suturing a patent foramen ovale, comprising a first suturing apparatus and a second suturing apparatus; the first suturing apparatus comprising: a first elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first suture clasp arm adapted to hold a first suture end portion, the first suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around a septum primum of the patent foramen ovale, wherein the first suture clasp arm is the only suture clasp arm of the first suturing apparatus; a first suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the first suture catch mechanism being moveable in a proximal to distal direction through the septum primum of the patent foramen ovate to engage a distal end of the first suture catch mechanism with the first suture end portion held by the first suture clasp arm when the first suture clasp arm is in the extended position; and a first guide configured to deflect the first suture catch mechanism when the first suture catch mechanism moves in the proximal to distal direction; and the second suturing apparatus comprising: a second elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; a second suture clasp arm adapted to hold a second suture end portion, the second suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around a septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale, wherein the second suture clasp arm is the only suture clasp arm of the second suturing apparatus; a second suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the second suture catch mechanism being moveable in a distal-to-proximal direction through the septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the second suture catch mechanism with the second suture end portion held by the second suture clasp arm when the second suture clasp arm is in the extended position; and a second guide configured to deflect the second suture catch mechanism when the second suture catch mechanism moves in the distal-to-proximal direction.