The surgical needle holder includes two elongated arms having scissor finger loops on one end and a pair of needle gripping jaws on the opposite end. The elongated arms are pivotally attached to each other. Δ first jaw is pivotally mounted via an actuator rod interconnecting the first jaw to one of the arms, opening and closing with respect to the second jaw as the elongated arms pivot with respect to each other. The jaws are designed to grip a surgical needle when in the closed position. Ratchet lock members attached to the elongated arms lock the jaws in the closed position in a manner similar to the locking of a hemostat. Mechanical configuration of the needle holder allows motion of the needles to be along any plane parallel to the longitudinal axle of the device while the surgeons hand is in a neutral position.
