A laparoscopic suturing device is provided. The suturing device can pass a suturing needle back and forth between jaws of a jaw assembly to suture tissue at a surgical site in a minimally invasive procedure. The jaw assembly can have a pivotable jaw member in each jaw to position the jaw assembly and needle in a low-profile stowed configuration for insertion through a low diameter surgical port. The jaw assembly can be actuated by a handle assembly that provides simultaneous needle passing from a driving jaw to a receiving jaw and latching the needle within the receiving jaw in a single trigger cycle.

A medical device for approximating and securing tissue without requiring knots includes a lock-head, a strap section, distal protuberance, and a leader section. The device also includes a transition section between the leader and the strap section and a stiffening section proximal to the protuberance. The leader section is used to draw the strap section into the body through small apertures in tissue and the transition section provides a gradual transition in stiffness and size between the leader and the strap section.

A medical device for approximating and securing tissue without requiring knots includes a lock-head, a strap section, distal protuberance, and a leader section. The device also includes a transition section between the leader and the strap section and a stiffening section proximal to the protuberance. The leader section is used to draw the strap section into the body through small apertures in tissue and the transition section provides a gradual transition in stiffness and size between the leader and the strap section.