Patent ID: 8177795

Claim:
A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue, comprising: a proximal actuator portion; a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and having a distal tip for piercing tissue; a suture needle disposed in said transfer needle, said suture needle being extendable from said transfer needle toward said catch needle and retractable from said catch needle toward said transfer needle; an extendable catch plunger disposed in said catch needle for capturing suture therein when it is transferred from said transfer needle; and a retractable insertion sheath for covering the transfer needle and the catch needle when the device is inserted into a procedural site; wherein said proximal actuator portion comprises an insertion sheath actuator for retracting said insertion sheath, a suture needle advancement actuator for advancing said suture needle, and a catch plunger release mechanism for releasing said catch plunger for travel distally, said suture needle advancement actuator having a position which also actuates said catch plunger release mechanism.