Surgical suturing device

An assembly comprising:

• a length of a suture;
• and
• a surgical suturing device including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an inverted needle attached to the distal end of the shaft, the needle having a sharpened proximal tip, wherein at least two apertures are provided in the proximal tip for attaching the suture thereto, one of said at least two apertures disposed within 5 mm of the sharpened proximal tip for attaching one end of the suture thereto;
• wherein the suture is disposed within the apertures with each end of the suture having an approximately equal length.

A method for suturing a tissue puncture site, said method comprising:

• providing a suture device having an elongate shaft, an inverted needle at a distal end of the elongate shaft, and a length of suture removably attached to the needle near a sharpened proximal tip on the needle;
• inserting the distal end of the device through the puncture site while the needle is recessed within the elongate shaft;
• moving the needle laterally outward from the recessed position to an exposed position;
• positioning the sharpened tip at a first target site on one side of the puncture site;
• locking the needle in the exposed position;
• drawing the needle outward through the tissue and removing a first end of the suture therefrom;
• reinserting the distal end of the device through the puncture site and positioning the sharpened tip at a second target site on another side of the puncture site;
• drawing the needle outward through the tissue and removing a second end of the suture therefrom;
• and
• securing the first and second suture ends to close the puncture site.

A method for suturing a tissue puncture site, said method comprising:

• providing a suture device having an elongate shaft, an inverted needle at a distal end of the elongate shaft, and first and second ends of a length of suture removably attached to the needle near a sharpened proximal tip on the needle;
• inserting the distal end of the device through the puncture site while the needle is recessed within the elongate shaft;
• moving the needle laterally outward from the recessed position to an exposed position;
• positioning the sharpened tip at a first target site on one side of the puncture site;
• drawing the needle outward through the tissue and removing the first end of the suture therefrom;
• reinserting the distal end of the device through the puncture site and positioning the sharpened tip at a second target site on another side of the puncture site;
• drawing the needle outward through the tissue and removing the second end of the suture therefrom;
• securing the first and second ends of the suture with a clamp after removing the ends from the needle;
• and
• securing the first and second suture ends to close the puncture site.

A method for suturing a tissue puncture site, said method comprising:

• providing a suture device having an elongate shaft, an inverted needle at a distal end of the elongate shaft, and a length of suture removably attached to the needle near a sharpened proximal tip on the needle, wherein the length of suture is removably attached to the needle by placing the suture through a pair of apertures in the needle so that both ends of the suture exit the apertures at a common side of the needle;
• inserting the distal end of the device through the puncture site while the needle is recessed within the elongate shaft;
• moving the needle laterally outward from the recessed position to an exposed position;
• positioning the sharpened tip at a first target site on one side of the puncture site;
• drawing the needle outward through the tissue and removing a first end of the suture therefrom;
• reinserting the distal end of the device through the puncture site and positioning the sharpened tip at a second target site on another side of the puncture site;
• drawing the needle outward through the tissue and removing a second end of the suture therefrom;
• and
• securing the first and second suture ends to close the puncture site.