Endoscopic suture system.

摘要

A suturing instrument (524) for placing sutures (570) inside a body cavity comprising: an elongate body member (526a,b) having a longitudinal axis; needle deployment means (528,532,534) for deploying a surgical needle (560) outside a distal end of said elongate body member (526a,b) along a path (542a) having an initial direction away from said elongate body member longitudinal axis followed by a direction toward said elongate body member longitudinal axis; and needle capture means (536) attached to said elongate body (526a,b) member for capturing the surgical needle (560) after deployment and further comprising a knot pushing means located at the distal end of said elongate body member for pushing a knot tied extracorporeally into the body cavity. <IMAGE>