Surgical suturing apparatus

1. A surgical suturing apparatus, comprising:

a suture housing;

a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path; and

a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue;

the drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of a drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path, the friction camming member includes an engagement member translating towards and away from the needle and a camming member acting upon the engagement member to move the engagement member into and out of engagement with the needle.

2. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly moves the needle about a continuous circular path.

3. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the suture housing is shaped and dimensioned for insertion through a natural orifice of a patient.

4. The suturing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the suture housing is shaped and dimensioned for passage through an orifice from approximately 3 mm to approximately 24 mm in diameter.

5. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the suture housing is shaped and dimensioned for laparoscopic insertion through a trocar.

6. The suturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the suture housing is shaped and dimensioned for passage through an orifice from approximately 3 mm to approximately 18 mm in diameter.

7. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a spring for biasing the friction camming member into contact with the needle.

8. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a frictional interface of the friction camming member is smooth.

9. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a frictional interface of the friction camming member is toothed.

10. The suturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is operably coupled to the needle and includes means for translating rotary motion about a first axis into arcuate motion of the needle about a second axis different from the first axis wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

11. A surgical suturing apparatus shaped and dimensioned for insertion through a natural orifice of a patient, comprising:

a suture housing;

a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path; and

a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue;

the drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of a drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path, the friction camming member includes an engagement member translating towards and away from the needle and a camming member acting upon the engagement member to move the engagement member into and out of engagement with the needle.

12. The suturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the drive assembly moves the needle about a continuous circular path.

13. The suturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the suture housing is shaped and dimensioned for passage through an orifice from approximately 3 mm to approximately 24 mm in diameter.

14. The suturing apparatus according to claim 11 , further including a spring for biasing the friction camming member into contact with the needle.

15. The suturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism is operably coupled to the needle and includes means for translating rotary motion about a first axis into arcuate motion of the needle about a second axis different from the first axis wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

16. A surgical suturing apparatus shaped and dimensioned for laparoscopic insertion through a trocar, comprising:

a suture housing;

a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path; and

a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue;

the drive assembly includes a friction camming member that moves along the suture housing under the control of a drive mechanism, wherein actuation of the drive mechanism causes the friction camming member to selectively engage and disengage the needle causing the needle to move about the arcuate path, the friction camming member includes an engagement member translating towards and away from the needle and a camming member acting upon the engagement member to move the engagement member into and out of engagement with the needle.

17. The suturing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the drive assembly moves the needle about a continuous circular path.

18. The suturing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the suture housing is shaped and dimensioned for passage through an orifice from approximately 3 mm to approximately 18 mm in diameter.

19. The suturing apparatus according to claim 16 , further including a spring for biasing the friction camming member into contact with the needle.

20. The suturing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the drive mechanism is operably coupled to the needle and includes means for translating rotary motion about a first axis into arcuate motion of the axis different from the first axis wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.