Patent ID: 8066737

Claim:
A suturing device comprising: a) a curved needle; b) a needle rotation drive for driving the needle through a circular path and an anti-rotate member defining a body for controlling the direction of needle rotation, the curved needle including: i) a curved toroidal body that defines a longitudinal axis along the curved toroidal body, wherein the longitudinal axis defines a center point; wherein the curved toroidal body includes a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, a first sharp pointed end and a second end, and wherein the longitudinal axis and the center point of the curved toroidal body define a first plane; ii) a first inner notch located proximate the first sharp pointed end of the curved needle and on the radially inner surface of the curved needle; the first inner notch including a first engagement surface configured for engaging the needle rotation drive, wherein the first engagement surface is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane and wherein the first engagement surface lies on the same geometric plane as a first cross sectional plane of the curved toroidal body, wherein the first cross sectional plane is also positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane; iii) a second inner notch located proximate the second end of the curved needle and on the radially inner surface of the curved needle; the second inner notch including a second engagement surface configured for engaging the needle rotation drive, wherein the second engagement surface is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane and wherein the second engagement surface lies on the same geometric plane as a second cross sectional plane of the curved toroidal body, wherein the second cross sectional plane is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane; and iv) an outer notch located on the radially outer surface of the curved needle; the outer notch including a third engagement surface, wherein the third engagement surface is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane and lies on the same geometric plane of a third cross sectional plane of the curved toroidal body, wherein the third cross sectional plane is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the first plane, and wherein the third engagement surface is configured for engaging the body of the anti-rotate member for controlling the direction of needle rotation.