a suturing device comprising a drive shaft and an oscillator for oscillating the drive shaft about an oscillatory axis . a suturing needle is coupled to the drive shaft so that the drive shaft can move the suturing needle back and forth along a first path . a loop arm is mounted for movement along a second path generally transverse to the oscillatory axis . the loop arm is drivingly coupled to the drive shaft to permit the drive shaft to move the loop arm back and forth along the second path .