A suturing instrument includes an elongate body member a distal tip assembly movably coupled to the elongate body member a needle deployment system located in the distal tip assembly, the needle deployment system including a forward-deploying needle carrier and a catch located on the distal tip assembly to receive and retain a needle coupled to the forward-deploying needle carrier, the catch being positioned on the distal tip assembly such that a distal path segment of the needle carriers path is intercepted by the catch.
