Abstract: An endoscopic instrument assembly for fastening bodily tissue is disclosed. The assembly includes a surgical instrument for insertion into and withdrawal from the passageway of a cannula. The instrument has a tube with a neckdown region between the proximal and distal ends of the tube. The proximal and distal ends of the tube have a diameter greater than the neckdown region. When the instrument is inserted into the passageway of the cannula, the radial clearance at the neckdown region of the tube is greater than the clearance at the tube distal end. The instrument includes a suture filament for fastening the tissue, and a needle attached to the distal end of the filament. When the instrument is inserted through the cannula, the filament has a length where the needle lies adjacent the neckdown region of the tube and is contained within the greater radial clearance offered by the neckdown region.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for forming a fully tied knot to fasten bodily tissue is disclosed. The instrument has a handle assembly for actuating first and second actuators. The first actuator remotely effects movement of a grasping jaw from an open position to a closed position relative to a suture cartridge contained in a cartridge carrier at the distal end of the instrument. Accordingly, the first actuator is capable of causing the manipulation of bodily tissue or suture filament contained in the suture cartridge. The second actuator is operatively connected to the suture filament in the suture cartridge. A portion of the suture filament is configured into a partially tied knot, and when the second actuator is actuated, it causes the proximal end of the filament to be pulled for converting the partially tied knot into a fully formed knot.