Surgical suturing instrument cartridge with needle release feature

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a cartridge receiving assembly, a suture cartridge, and a cage securement. The suture cartridge is configured to be received within the cartridge receiving assembly and has a cartridge body, a needle, a drive assembly, and a cage. The cage is movably secured to the cartridge body to selectively move relative to the cartridge body from a closed position to an opened position. In the closed position, the cage is configured to contain the needle within the cartridge body. In the opened position, the cage is configured such that the needle is removable from the cartridge body. The cage securement is configured to move from a first position to a second position to inhibit movement of the cage from the closed position toward the opened position, yet release movement of the cage for selectively moving the cage to the opened position.