Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating wound closure of an opening in tissue includes a handle portion dimensioned to be gripped by the hand of a user, an elongate body portion connected to the handle portion and extending distally therefrom, a jaw mechanism including a stationary jaw affixed to the distal end portion of the elongate body portion and a movable jaw movably mounted to the distal end portion of the elongate body portion and movable between an initial closed position and a deployed open position, a suture assembly including a length of suture supported by the jaw mechanism, and being at least partially positionable within the opening in the tissue, first and second suture engaging members respectively operatively associated with the stationary jaw and the movable jaw, a deployment mechanism operable to move the movable jaw between the initial position and the deployed position, and an actuator mechanism operatively associated with the first and second suture engaging members and configured to move the first and second suture engaging members from a first position remote from the free ends of the suture to a second position wherein the first and second suture engaging members engage respective free ends of the suture. A method for facilitating closure of an opening in a tissue, e.g., a blood vessel wall is also disclosed.

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First Claim