Retractable suture needle with self-contained driver

A method for suturing comprising the steps of

• providing a curved needle having a pointed distal end, an interior passage for receiving suture, an opening in a surface of said needle, and a mounting element that mounts said needle to an arm having an interior passage for delivering suture, and having a linkage assembly that includes pivoting means for pivoting said needle relative to an axis transverse to said arm
• pivoting said needle about the transverse axis to pass said pointed end and said opening through tissue,
• guiding suture through said interior passage within said arm, into said interior passage of said needle and through said opening,
• gripping said suture extending through said opening, and
• pivoting said needle to retract said needle through the tissue.

A kit for suturing tissue, comprising

• a curved needle having a pointed distal end portion, a proximal end portion and engagement means, disposed between said distal and proximal ends for receiving suture;
• an arm having coupling means for coupling said curved needle to a distal end of said arm;
• and having a linkage assembly that includes pivoting means for pivoting of said needle relative to an axis transverse to said arm;
• and
• a suture grip having means for grasping suture at two separate locations.

A method for suturing comprising the steps of

• providing a curved needle having a pointed distal end, a notch for receiving suture and a mounting element that mounts said needle to an arm having a linkage assembly that includes pivoting means for pivoting said needle,
• pivoting said needle about an axis transverse to said arm to pass said pointed end and said notch through tissue,
• securing the suture within said notch by gripping suture material at a first location and at a second location and fitting the suture material extending between said first and said second location within said notch, and
• retracting said needle through the tissue.

Suturing apparatus for endoscopic surgery, comprising

• a curved needle being dimensionally adapted for fitting through an endoscopic port and having a pointed distal end portion and a proximal end portion, an interior passage extending partly between said distal and proximal end portions and connecting to an opening at said proximal end, and a notch disposed between said distal and proximal end portions and arranged to form an opening into said interior passage, and
• an arm having an interior passage extending substantially parallel to said arm and connecting to an opening at a distal end of said arm, wherein said distal arm end is adapted to couple to said proximal end portion of said needle to form, in cooperation with said needle, an interior passage extending between said arm and said needle,
• guiding means, coupled to said arm, for providing suture into said arm interior passage and for moving suture through said arm interior passage, into said needle interior passage and out said notch, and
• a linkage assembly disposed at said distal end of said arm and having pivoting means for pivoting said needle about an axis transverse to said arm, whereby tissue segments can be joined by piercing the tissue segments with said needle, guiding suture through said passage and out said notch and pivoting said needle to draw the suture through the tissue segments.