Needle cartridge with moveable cover

Abstract

A needle cartridge is adapted to be attached to a receiver on a surgical suturing device. The cartridge comprises an arced needle having a leading end, a trailing end, and a length of suture. A cartridge body has a track that receives the needle and defining a circular path. A needle driver is operable to rotate the needle along the circular path. A cover is on the body and positioned over the needle in the track. The cover is selectively moveable relative to the body to release the needle from the track.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . 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 body having a pair of distally projecting arms and a track receiving the needle and defining a circular path;   a needle driver operable to rotate the needle in a first rotation direction along the circular path across the body arms;   a cover capturing the needle in the track;   a cage slideable relative the body between a distal position configured to constrain the cover against the body to capture the needle in the track, and a proximal position configured to enable the needle to be released from the track.   
     
     
         10 . The needle cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the cover comprises at least one cleat projecting into the track, the cleat being configured to engage the trailing end of the needle to prevent the needle from rotating in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         11 . The needle cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the body and cover arms define a generally U-shaped distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The needle cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the cage comprises a U-shaped distal end that aligns with the U-shaped distal end when the cage is in its distal position. 
     
     
         13 . The needle cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein when the cage is in the proximal position the cover arms can deflect away the body allowing the needle to eject from the needle track. 
     
     
         14 . The needle cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein when the cage is in the proximal position the cover arms lift away from the body leaving a gap from through which the needle may eject from the track.