Surgical suturing instrument and method of use

A method for joining a first layer of material and a second layer of material, said method comprising:

• providing a tool for joining a first layer of material to a second layer of material, said tool comprising:
• a handle;
• a first jaw and a second jaw mounted on said handle, at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw being moveable relative to the other;
• said first jaw defining therein:
• a first channel for retaining a wire guide;
• a second channel extending from the first channel for supporting a suture wire extending from the wire guide;
• and
• a passageway for retaining a cutting bar;
• said second channel being curved to impart a looping configuration to portions of the suture wire passed therethrough;
• a wire advancing actuator mounted on said handle for moving the suture wire through said second channel and through the first and second layers of material in the looping configuration;
• and
• a wire cutting actuator mounted on said handle for moving the cutting bar into cutting engagement with the suture wire, wherein the suture wire in the looping configuration joins the first layer of material to the second layer of material;
• wherein said second jaw is bifurcated into a first arm and a second arm and whereby the looping configuration of the second wire is formable between said first arm and said second arm;
• placing the first layer of material and the second layer of material between said first jaw and said second jaw;
• advancing the suture wire out of said first jaw to form the looping configuration of the suture wire through the first layer of material and the second layer of material between said first jaw and said second jaw so as to join the first layer and the second layer to one another;
• advancing said cutting bar through the suture wire so as to sever the looping configuration of the suture wire and a remaining portion of the suture wire in said second channel form one another.

A tool for joining a first layer of material to a second layer of material, said tool comprising:

• a handle;
• a first jaw and a second jaw mounted on said handle, at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw being moveable relative to the other;
• said first jaw defining therein:
• a first channel for retaining a wire guide;
• a second channel extending from the first channel for supporting a suture wire extending from the wire guide;
• and
• a passageway for retaining a cutting bar;
• said second channel being curved to impart a looping configuration to portions of the suture wire passed therethrough;
• a wire advancing actuator mounted on said handle for moving the suture wire through said second channel and through the first and second layers of material in said looping configuration;
• and
• a wire cutting actuator mounted on said handle for moving the cutting bar into cutting engagement with the suture wire, wherein the suture wire in said looping configuration joins the first layer of material to the second layer of material;
• wherein said first jaw and said second jaw define a first surface and a second surface opposed to one another, respectively, and said first surface and said second surface each contain serrations corresponding to one another.