Stitching devices for heart valve replacement surgery

A dual needle stitching device for use in surgery comprising:

• a housing;
• a body portion extending distally from the housing;
• a first jaw mounted to a distal end of the body portion, the first jaw configured to receive a pair of surgical incision members therein;
• a second jaw mounted to the distal end of the housing, the second jaw configured to receive the pair of surgical incision members therein;
• at least one handle mounted on the housing, the second jaw movable relative to the first jaw in response to actuation of the at least one handle;
• and
• a securing mechanism operable relative to the first jaw and the second jaw, the securing mechanism operable to alternately secure the pair of surgical incision members within the first jaw and the second jaw.

A disposable loading unit for use with a surgical suturing apparatus having at least one jaw comprising:

• a base;
• apparatus receiving structure movably mounted on the base, the apparatus receiving structure configured to receive a distal end of a surgical suturing apparatus;
• and
• a needle supply station on the base, the needle supply station having a needle support member movably mounted therein, the needle support member releasably holding at least one surgical needle.

A method of suturing an artificial heart valve to heart tissue comprising the steps of:

• providing a suturing device having a first and a second jaw, at least one needle connected to a single length of suture material releasably retained within one of the first and second jaws;
• providing an artificial heart valve having a cuff portion;
• positioning the at least one needle adjacent heart tissue and the cuff portion of the valve;
• closing the jaws to pierce the tissue and cuff portion with the at least one needle;
• releasing the at least one needle from the one of the first and second jaws and grasping the at least one needle with the other of the first and second jaws;
• and
• opening the first and second jaws to draw the length of suture material through the tissue and cuff portion.