TAPERED TRANSITION PORTION FOR SUTURE NEEDLES

1 . A suturing needle comprising:

a needle tip portion having a needle tip at a distal end for piercing tissue;

a needle body having a distal end connected to a proximal end of the needle tip portion;

a suture thread attached to a proximal end of the needle body by a thread attachment component; and

a tapered ramp extending from the proximal end of the needle body and covering the thread attachment component and at least a portion of the suture thread.

2 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the tapered ramp proximal the needle body has a diameter equal to a needle body diameter, and a second end of the tapered ramp opposite the first end has a diameter equal to a suture thread diameter, and wherein the tapered ramp provides a smooth transition from the first end to the second end thereof.

3 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the tapered ramp is flexible.

4 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the tapered ramp is formed of a cyanoacrylate

5 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the needle tip portion is formed to become gradually thicker from the needle tip to the proximal end thereof.

6 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the suture thread is mono-filamentary or multi-filamentary.

7 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the suture thread is bioabsorbable.

8 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the suture thread comprises at least one region of tissue retaining structures.

9 . The needle of claim 8 , wherein the tissue retaining structures are barbs.

10 . The needle of claim 8 , wherein the at least one region of tissue retaining structures are distal from the tapered ramp.

11 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the needle body is straight.

12 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the needle body curved.

13 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the needle body is formed to have a substantially circular cross-section having a non-smooth profile.

14 . The needle of claim 11 , wherein the non-smooth profile comprises a plurality of equally spaced circumferential indentations extending longitudinally on the curved needle body.

15 . The needle of claim 14 , wherein the non-smooth profile comprises from 4 to 16 equally spaced circumferential indentations forming ridges having a convex shape.

16 . The needle of claim 14 , wherein the circumferential indentations extend along a full length of the curved needle body.

17 . The needle of claim 16 , wherein the circumferential indentations are angled on the curved needle body to form a spiral thereon.

18 . The needle of claim 17 , wherein the spiral is right-handed or left-handed.

19 . The needle of claim 17 , comprising at least two regions of circumferential indentations having different angles on the curved needle body.

20 . A method of suturing tissues using a roller needle driver, the method comprising:

(a) providing a suture needle comprising: a needle tip portion having a needle tip at a distal end for piercing tissue; a needle body having a distal end connected to a proximal end of the needle tip portion; a suture thread attached to a proximal end of the needle body by a thread attachment component; and a tapered ramp extending from the proximal end of the needle body and covering the thread attachment component and at least a portion of the suture thread;

(b) grasping, between rollers of the roller needle driver, the suture thread or the tapered ramp distal from the needle body;

(c) loading the needle so that the rollers are positioned on the needle body without opening the rollers;

(d) driving the needle through a tissue being subjected to suture;

(e) moving the needle through the tissue without releasing the needle from the tissue;

(f) grasping the suture needle at an end exiting from the tissue through which the needle was moved; and

repeating steps (d)-(f) until completion of the suturing process.