Suturing instrument

1. A suturing instrument comprising:

an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and comprising a distal end;

a distal portion coupled to the elongate member at the distal end and defining a needle exit port, the distal portion configured to move from a first position, in which the distal portion aligns with the longitudinal axis, to a second position, in which the distal portion moves away from the longitudinal axis, the distal portion including a needle catch configured to receive a needle when the needle is advanced out of the needle exit port; and

an actuation mechanism including an actuator, a slideable push rod, and a biasing member operatively coupled to the push rod and the elongate member, the biasing member being disposed within the elongate member, the push rod configured to engage the distal portion and move the distal portion from the first position to the second position upon activation of the actuator, the biasing member configured to bias the push rod proximally upon releasing the actuator,

the actuator configured to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the actuator configured to advance the needle out of the needle exit port and move the distal portion away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

2. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , further comprising an articulation joint for coupling the distal portion to the distal end of the elongate member.

3. The suturing instrument of claim 2 , wherein the articulation joint comprises a joint element selected from the group consisting of a clevis, a hinge, or a ball-and socket joint.

4. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion includes a range of actuation from about 1 to about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

5. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the needle catch comprises a plurality of openings, and the needle catch is configured to retain the needle within the plurality of openings.

6. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring.

7. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a needle deployment mechanism, the needle deployment mechanism including a needle carrier at least partially disposed in the distal portion for holding the needle, and a push wire operatively coupled to the biasing member and the needle carrier.

8. The suturing instrument of claim 1 , wherein the needle catch is disposed between the distal end of the elongate member and the needle exit port.

9. A suturing instrument comprising:

an elongate member including a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

a distal portion pivotably coupled to the distal end of the elongate member via an articulation joint and defining a needle exit port, the distal portion biased in a configuration extending along the longitudinal axis, the distal portion including a needle catch configured to receive a needle when the needle is advanced out of the needle exit port; and

an actuation mechanism for offsetting the distal portion from the longitudinal axis, the actuation mechanism comprising a push rod and a biasing member operatively coupled to the push rod and the elongate member, the push rod configured to engage the distal portion and move the distal portion upon activation of the actuation mechanism, whereby when the push rod is slid in a distal direction the distal end of the push rod engages the distal portion to offset the distal portion relative to the longitudinal axis, and whereby sliding the push rod in a proximal direction allows the distal portion to return to its biased position along the longitudinal axis, the biasing member including a spring disposed within the elongate member and configured to bias the push rod proximally upon releasing the actuation mechanism.

10. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the articulation joint comprises a joint element selected from the group consisting of a clevis, a hinge, or a ball-and-socket joint.

11. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the distal portion comprises a range of actuation from about 1 to about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

12. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the actuation mechanism further includes an actuator such that the spring is disposed between the push rod and the actuator, the actuator configured to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the actuator configured to advance the needle out of the needle exit port and move the distal portion away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

13. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the needle catch comprises a plurality of openings.

14. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the needle catch is configured to retain the needle.

15. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , further comprising a needle deployment mechanism, the needle deployment mechanism including a needle carrier at least partially disposed in the distal portion for holding the needle, a push wire operatively coupled to the biasing member and the needle carrier, and an actuator operatively coupled to the biasing member, the actuator configured to advance the needle out of the needle exit port and move the distal portion away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

16. The suturing instrument of claim 9 , wherein the needle catch is disposed between the distal end of the elongate member and the needle exit port.

17. A suturing instrument comprising:

an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and comprising a distal end;

a distal portion coupled to the elongate member at the distal end and defining a needle exit port, the distal portion configured to move from a first position, in which the distal portion aligns with the longitudinal axis, to a second position, in which the distal portion moves away from the longitudinal axis, the distal portion including a needle catch configured to receive a needle when the needle is advanced out of the needle exit port, the needle catch defining a plurality of openings; and

an actuation mechanism comprising a slideable push rod, an actuator, and a biasing member operatively coupled to the push rod and the elongated member, the biasing member including a spring, the biasing member being disposed within the elongate member between the push rod and the actuator, the push rod configured to engage the distal portion and move the distal portion from the first position to the second position upon activation of the actuator, the biasing member configured to bias the push rod proximally upon releasing the actuator.

18. The suturing instrument of claim 17 , further comprising an articulation joint for coupling the distal portion to the distal end of the elongate member.

19. The suturing instrument of claim 17 , wherein the needle catch is disposed between the distal end of the elongate member and the needle exit port.