An endoscopic stitching device includes a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, each jaw defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof a drive assembly including a pair of concentric, individually rotatably and translatably supported barrels, each barrel defining a central lumen therethrough and a pair of axially translatable needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw. The stitching device further includes a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed through the lumen of the barrels, a distal end of the center rod being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws.
