The present invention is directed to a suturing device comprising: a body
member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis
positioned between the proximal and distal ends, the body member
comprising a slide and a trigger slide; a tip assembly attached to the
distal end of the body member and comprising: a hollow sheath having a
distal end and a window positioned at the distal end; a pushrod housed in
the hollow sheath, the pushrod being in mechanical communication with the
slide and moveable along the longitudinal axis; and a heating element
sheath containing a heating element, the heating element sheath
positioned adjacent to the hollow sheath, the heating element in
mechanical and electrical communication with the trigger slide, the
heating element moveable within the heating element sheath and along the
longitudinal axis and over the window; circuitry in electrical
communication between the trigger slide and the heating element, wherein
the trigger slide activates the circuitry to heat the heating element and
moves the movable heating element along the longitudinal axis and over
the window to contact a suture and thereby create a bloom of suture
material. The present invention is also directed to suturing techniques
using the above device.