Handle for suturing apparatus

A method of applying suture to an opening, comprising:

• inserting an elongate body into the opening, the elongate body being connected to a handle having a plurality of actuators;
• depressing a first actuator to extend at least one arm from a first position to a second position, the arm in its second position extending from the elongate body on a distal side of the opening, the at least one arm holding a suture portion;
• depressing a second actuator from a first position to a second position to advance at least one needle from the elongate body from the proximal side of the opening, through tissue adjacent the opening, and into engagement with the suture portion held by the at least one arm;
• continuing to depress the second actuator beyond the second position to retract the at least one needle in a distal to proximal direction, pulling the suture portion proximally through the opening;
• and
• retracting the arm to its first position.

A method of advancing a needle, comprising:

• providing an actuator capable of being depressed;
• providing a follower having an angled surface, the follower being connected with the needle and the angled surface being engageable with a surface of the actuator;
• depressing the actuator along a first path relative to the follower to advance the needle, wherein the distance moved by the needle is proportional to the angle of the angled surface;
• continuing to depress the actuator along the first path until the actuator surface exits the angled surface of the follower;
• and
• retracting the needle while retracting the follower such that the actuator moves relative to the follower along a second path, the second path being different than the first path.