Importance

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Abstract

An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle includes a handle, a needle driver mounted by the handle for rotation along a first arcuate path having a radius of curvature commensurate with a radius of curvature of the suture needle, and a needle catcher mounted by the handle for rotation along a second arcuate path coplanar with the first arcuate path and having a radius of curvature commensurate with the radius of curvature of the suture needle. The needle driver and the needle catcher each include needle holding members selectively operable to grasp and release the suture needle so that, when the needle holding members of the driver are operated to grasp the suture needle, the driver can be rotated to drive the suture needle through anatomical tissue positioned between the driver and the catcher, and when the needle holding members of the catcher are operated to grasp the suture needle, the needle holding members of the driver can be operated to release the suture needle, thereby allowing the catcher to be rotated to pull the suture material through the anatomical tissue.

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First Claim