Patent ID: 7112208

Claim:
Suturing instrumentation adapted for use with a malleable needle having a sharpened distal tip and proximal end attachable to a length of suture material, the instrumentation comprising: an elongated, cannulated tube having a distal end terminating in a nonlinear portion; and a trocar configured for introduction into the elongated, cannulated tube, and the cannulated tube having a linear slot in a side wall proximate to the distal end of the elongated cannulated tube to receive a linear malleable needle, the trocar including a distal end operative to push the malleable needle through the nonlinear portion, such that when the distal end of the cannulated tube is positioned proximate to a tissue to be sutured the needle is pushed by the distal end of the trocar through the nonlinear portion, the needle is deformed, causing the needle and suture material to enter into, and exit from, the tissue such that at least a portion of a distal tip of the needle protrudes from the tissue.