A vascular suturing device is disclosed which includes an elongated tubular body
defining opposed proximal and distal end portions and having a longitudinal axis
extending therethrough, the body including an inner tubular member, an outer tubular
member and a central tubular member disposed between the inner and outer tubular
members. The inner tubular member and the central tubular member are mounted for
movement relative to the outer tubular member about the longitudinal axis of the
body for sequentially driving a pair of suture needles through the wall of a blood
vessel to close an incision formed therein. A vascular dilator having a tapered
distal tip portion is supported within the inner tubular member and is dimensioned
to extend beyond the distal end of the inner tubular member for positioning the
suturing device at the incision in the wall of the blood vessel. The dilator is
configured to direct blood flow from the distal portion of the dilator to a location
remote from the blood vessel for observation to confirm the location of the device.