Patent ID: 8858573

Claim:
An apparatus for suturing a body lumen, the apparatus comprising: a flexible elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, a central passage and a plurality of needle lumens extending from the distal end toward the proximal 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 proximal a proximal end of the needle lumens, the barrel portion comprising a plurality of distal openings, a barrel opening, and corresponding needle lumens on the proximal end of the elongated member connecting the plurality of distal openings and the barrel opening, the elongated subsection providing sufficient space between the needles and the barrel portion to allow transapical insertion of the elongated member; a plurality of needles disposed within and advanceable from the plurality of needle lumens in the flexible elongated member across the elongated subsection 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; wherein the plurality of distal openings direct the plurality of needles outward from the distal opening of the barrel portion towards the handle and towards a plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the flexible elongated member.