Circular needle applier with cleats

1. A needle cartridge adapted to be attached to a receiver on a surgical suturing device, the cartridge comprising:

an arced needle having a leading end, a trailing end, and a length of suture;

a track receiving the needle and defining a circular path;

a needle driver operable to rotate the needle along the circular path in a first rotational direction; and

a cover capturing the needle in the track, the cover comprising an outer face, an inner face, and a cleat projecting from the inner face into the track, the cleat adapted to engage the trailing end of the needle and prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction;

wherein the needle driver reciprocates between a drive stroke and a return stroke, the drive stroke rotates the needle about 180 degrees, and the cover comprises two cleats projecting into the track spaced about 180 degrees from one another along the circular path.

2. The needle cartridge of claim 1 , wherein cleats are positioned to be adjacent the trailing end of the needle after the drive strokes.

3. The needle cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cleats and cover are monolithically formed.

4. The needle cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cleats dimensionally interfere with the needle in the needle track.

5. The needle cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the cover resiliently deflects to accommodate the interference.

6. The needle cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the outer face of the cover comprises reliefs aligned with the cleats.

7. The needle cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the cleats each comprise a ramped leading face and a stepped trailing face adapted to engage the trailing end of the needle.