US Patent 9839419 Suturing instrument with jaw having integral cartridge component

A surgical instrument includes a body, first and second drive elements, a shaft, and a needle applier. The first drive element has a distal portion located at a distal end of the body. The second drive element has a proximal portion located at a proximal end of the shaft. The proximal portion of the second drive element is configured to removably couple with the distal portion of first drive element such that the first and second drive elements are aligned along a common axis and such that the first drive element is configured to communicate motion to the second drive element. The needle applier includes a needle and a drive assembly, which is configured to drive the needle along an orbital path about a rotation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, in response to motion of the second drive element.