Abstract: A pliers-like device to facilitate certain surgical procedures, such as coaptation of the surgically split sternum, for thrusting a needle having a coaxial suture through tough tissue. The device has two elongate jaws, mechanically articulated at one end for opposable action by manual operation. The free end of the upper jaw is forked and the free end of the lower jaw has a socket to hold the needle in direction toward the fork. Features of the invention include a channel to accommodate the suture and a kerf to facilitate insertion of the suture into the socket. An optional improvement on the device provides a clamp to releasibly clamp the needle in the socket by the action of a spring-biased pin controlled by an accessory lever.