Automated heart valve sewing

A suturing system comprising:

• a first automated fixture comprising a plurality of motorized actuator devices and a suture target holder, the first automated fixture being configured to rotate the target suture device when mounted to the suture target holder;
• and
• a second automated fixture comprising a plurality of motorized actuator devices, a needle, and a stitch looper, the plurality of motorized actuators configured to move the needle in a fixed path and to move the stitch looper in a fixed path and to rotate the stitch looper, the plurality of motorized actuators configured to coordinate movement of the needle and the stitch looper to form a plurality of stitches on the target suture device,
• wherein the first automated fixture and the second automated fixture execute a suturing procedure that includes:
• moving the target suture device to a first position;
• passing the needle through a material being sutured to the target suture device at a first insertion point, the needle including an eye that secures a suture that sutures the material to the implant device;
• advancing the stitch looper between a portion of the suture and the needle;
• withdrawing the needle through the first insertion point with the portion of the suture wrapped around the stitch looper to maintain the portion of the suture on an opposite side of the material as the needle after it is withdrawn;
• rotating the stitch looper with the portion of the suture wrapped around the stitch looper to form a loop in the suture;
• moving the target suture device to a second position;
• passing the needle through the material at a second insertion point such that the needle passes through the loop formed in the portion of the suture held by the stitch looper;
• and
• withdrawing the stitch looper such that the portion of the suture held by the stitch looper slides off the stitch looper and the loop formed in the portion of the suture previously held by the stitch looper tightens around a portion of the suture held by the needle, thereby forming a stitch in the material at or near the first insertion point.