Suturing needle with tail mounted cutting blade and method for using same

Claim 1

A curved surgical needle for tissue wound closure, and in particular, suturing tissue together both sides of an incision made in human or animal tissue, having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface and having suturing material securely attachable thereto, said needle comprising: a substantially curved body portion having first and second ends; a point located at said first end of said body portion, for piercing said tissue on opposite sides of said incision and forming an axial passage in said tissue for said suturing material to pass through and thereby draw both sides of said incision together; suture attachment means positioned at said second end of said body portion and adapted for receiving, securing and maintaining said suturing material upon said needle; a tail portion proximate said body portion second end; an intermediate portion between said point and said tail portion devoid of cutting surfaces; and said tail portion having cutting edge means projecting radially outwardly therefrom for making at least one radial cut in said tissue extending from said axial passageway so as to facilitate the entry and passage of said suturing material through said tissue.