Suturing devices and methods for suturing an anatomic valve

A device for suturing an anatomic valve, comprising:

• an elongate body;
• an arm having a distal end attached by a fixed pivot to a distal end of the elongate body for pivoting movement between a retracted arm position and an extended arm position;
• a recess defined between the elongate body and the arm when the arm is fully retracted, the recess being sized and shaped to receive a leaflet of a valve between the elongate body and the arm without damaging the leaflet;
• a needle having tissue-piercing portion, the needle being operatively coupled to the elongate body for reversible movement between
• a) a retracted needle position wherein the tissue-piercing portion is disposed adjacent a proximal end of the recess and
• b) an advanced needle position wherein the tissue-piercing portion spans the recess to be received by the arm;
• and
• wherein the arm comprises a suture clasp configured to releasably retain a suture portion, the suture clasp being positioned on a proximal end of the arm such that, when the arm is in the retracted arm position, the needle is adapted to retrieve the suture portion retained in the suture clasp by moving from the retracted needle position to the advanced position, retrieving the suture portion in the advanced position, and returning to the retracted needle position.