Patent attributes
A surgical instrument that has a cartridge receiving assembly, a shaft assembly, and a needle driving cartridge. The cartridge receiving assembly in connected to the shaft assembly. The needle driving cartridge is capable of being inserted into the cartridge receiving assembly. The needle driving cartridge is capable of driving a needle along an orbital path in a single angular direction. The needle driving cartridge includes a body, a curved needle, a needle drive assembly, and a needle guide assembly capable of guiding a needle along the orbital path. The needle guide assembly includes a cleat. The cleat has two needle engagement features. The two needle engagement features are configured to simultaneously engage two separate regions of the outer surface of the needle at the same portion of the length of the needle.
