Laparascopic suturing device and suture needles

A surgical suturing tool, comprising:

• a) a suture needle comprising an elongated essentially straight shaft which traverses an essentially linear path of travel and having a first end tapered to a point, a second end, and a medial portion between the first end and second end, said medial portion having an axially aligned groove leading to a blind hole into which a surgical suture can be fixedly secured, said groove oriented to lead the surgical suture out of a side surface of the suture needle at an angle downward toward the proximal end of the needle opposite the point;
• and
• b) a suture needle holder comprising:
• an elongated tube having a proximal end and a distal end and having an outer wall extending there between enclosing an internal cavity;
• the distal end having a rounded surface with an external groove of sufficient depth to retain a suture therein;
• a pair of wings adjacent the distal end, each wing being pivotable from within the tube at a first end and having a second end which is radially extensible, the second end of said wing having a blind hole for removably receiving said suture needle in said blind hole, said needle being aligned substantially parallel with said elongated tube;
• a control element mounted on the proximal end of the tube, operatively connected to said pair of wings for pivoting purposes;
• and
• the tube further including a flushing port mounted near the proximal end, said flushing port being in fluid communication with the distal end.