Methods and devices for delivering sutures in tissue

A suture driving assembly for closing an opening in a tissue section, the assembly comprising:

• a first needle assembly having a tissue piercing end distal and being elastically deformable when restrained into a strained state and upon release assumes the curvilinear shape;
• a suture exterior to the needle assembly and having at least one end front-loaded into a needle lumen of a first tissue piercing portion of the first needle assembly;
• a main body having a tissue engaging surface at a distal end, at least one constraining channel and at least one retrieving channel each of which having an opening at the tissue engaging surface;
• where the constraining channel extends through the main body and comprises at least a restraining portion having a profile to maintain the needle assembly into the strained state and a guide segment portion adjacent to the constraining channel opening and having a profile to release needle assembly into the curvilinear shape when advanced therethrough and upon continued advancement the needle assembly exits the opening of the constraining channel in the curvilinear shape;
• a suture retriever assembly located in the needle retrieving channel and comprising a pawl mechanism, where the pawl mechanism interferes with the front loaded suture and needle assembly when advanced therein, where rearward movement of the front loaded suture and needle assembly causes the pawl to engage the suture to retain the suture within the needle retrieving channel;
• and
• an clamping member axially moveable relative to the tissue engaging surface, the clamping member having a first profile, where the clamping member can advance through an opening in the tissue section and where the clamping member can be withdrawn toward the tissue supporting face to secure the tissue section therebetween when expanded.

A method for positioning a suture in a wall of an organ to close an opening in the wall, the method comprising:

• placing a main body adjacent to a proximal side of the tissue, where the main body comprises at least one needle assembly coupleable to the suture and within a constraining channel located in the main body, where the needle assembly comprises a tissue piercing end distal to an elongate shaped section, the elongate shape section having a curvilinear shape, the shaped section being elastically deformable into a strained state within the constraining channel, and a suture coupled to the needle assembly, the main body further including a tissue engaging surface;
• advancing a clamping member through the opening in the Organ when the clamping member is in a reduced profile;
• positioning the wall of the organ between the main body and the clamping member;
• advancing the needle assembly from the constraining channel into a guide segment, where the guide segment permits the shaped section of the needle assembly located therein to revert to the curvilinear shape prior to leaving the guide segment and entering the wall of the organ;
• driving the needle assembly through a proximal side of the wall of the organ, such that the shaped section moves through the curvilinear shape so that the tissue piercing distal end and suture re-enter the main body at a retrieving channel;
• and
• withdrawing the main body.

A suture driving assembly for positioning a suture in a tissue section, the assembly comprising:

• at least one needle assembly having a tissue piercing end distal to an elongate shaped section, the elongate shaped section having a curvilinear shape and a non-circular cross-sectional shape, the elongate shaped section being elastically deformable when restrained into a strained state and upon release assumes the curvilinear shape, the suture coupled to the needle assembly;
• a main body having a tissue engaging surface at a distal end, at least one constraining channel and at least one retrieving channel each of which having an opening at the tissue engaging surface;
• such that the constraining channel having a non-circular cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the respective elongate shaped section deployed therein, wherein an orientation between the constraining channel and the shaped section of the needle is provided, such that upon advancement the elongate shaped section of the needle exits the distal end of the constraining channel, the needle travels in a path defined by its curvilinear shape and the cross-sectional shape of the respective constraining channel and needle assembly;
• a suture retriever assembly located in the needle retrieving channel;
• and
• a clamping member axially moveable relative to the tissue engaging surface, the clamping member having a first profile configured to advance through an opening in the tissue section and where the clamping member can be withdrawn toward the tissue supporting face to secure the tissue section therebetween.