Expandable needle suture apparatus and associated handle assembly with rotational suture manipulation system

A surgical suturing device comprising:

• a needle assembly comprised of a needle housing and a needle with an elongated rod that slides inside of the needle housing and has a notch at a proximal end thereof and bifurcated portions at a distal end thereof, the needle assembly movable in the needle housing between a free suture state, a captured suture state, and a locked suture state, the bifurcated portions of the needle assembly defining a suture slot, the bifurcated portions having a proximate relationship when the needle assembly is in the captured suture state and having a separated relationship when the needle assembly is in the free suture state;
• the bifurcated portions of the needle assembly being unitary with one another;
• and a sharp distal tip of the needle assembly being unitary with at least one of the bifurcated portions;
• a handle assembly including a longitudinal handle housing sized and configured to releasably receive the needle assembly at a distal end thereof;
• a thumb slide assembly movable longitudinally on the handle housing between a distal position and a proximal position, the distal position of the thumb slide assembly being associated with the needle in the free suture state;
• and the proximal position of the thumb slide assembly being associated with the needle in the captured suture state and the locked suture state;
• a needle latch connected to the thumb slide assembly and having a releasable latching relationship with the notch at the proximal end of the needle rod to move the needle between a distal position and a proximal position with the thumb slide assembly;
• a locking lever pivotally connected to the handle housing and pivotal on the handle housing between an unlocking position and a locking position, the locking lever having a hub lock that releasably engages a depression on an exterior of the needle housing to provide a releasable locking relationship therewith;
• and
• a locking lever latch slidable on the handle housing between a first position wherein the locking lever latch is separated from the locking lever which is pivotal on the handle housing to the unlocking position, and a second position wherein the locking lever latch is held in contact with the locking lever to hold it in the locking position.