Patent ID: 8702729

Claim:
A suturing instrument, comprising: an elongate body extending from a handle, the elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate body also comprising a spring and a push rod; a suturing head extending from the distal end of the elongate body, the suturing head configured to, in the presence of a force external to the suturing head, be substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis such that the suturing instrument is in a linear configuration, and, in the absence of the force external to the suturing head, be articulated from the longitudinal axis such that the suturing instrument is in a non-linear configuration, the spring and the push rod of the elongate body being operably associated with the suturing head so as to articulate the suturing head from the longitudinal axis in the absence of the force external to the suturing head; a first needle carrier and a second needle carrier, both being movable into and out of the suturing head; a first actuator for controlling movement of the first needle carrier, the first actuator extending from a proximal end of the handle; and a second actuator for controlling movement of the second needle carrier, the second actuator extending from the proximal end of the handle; the first and second actuators configured such that depression of the first actuator or the second actuator causes deployment of the first needle carrier or the second needle carrier, respectively, and also compression of the spring and movement of the push rod.