Systems, devices and methods of using needle sheaths for passing curved, superelastic suture needles through trocars

A needle sheath comprising:

• a tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end with a chamfered edge, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of said tubular shaft;
• a flange secured to the proximal end of said tubular shaft having an outer dimension that is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of said tubular shaft;
• a needle relief slot formed in a bottom side of said tubular shaft, wherein said needle relief slot has a length that extends along a needle relief slot axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft and that passes through said chamfered edge:
• a needle point slot formed in a top side of said tubular shaft that is distal to said needle relief slot, wherein said needle point slot has a length that extends along a needle point slot axis that is perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft and the needle relief slot axis of said needle relief slot.

A surgical tool for introducing and removing a suture needle from a surgical cavity comprising:

• a tubular shaft having a proximal end with a proximal opening, a distal end with a distal opening, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of said tubular shaft;
• the distal end of said tubular shaft including a chamfered edge located on a bottom side of said tubular shaft;
• a needle relief slot formed in the bottom side of said tubular shaft, said needle relief slot being proximal to said chamfered edge and having a length that extends along an axis that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft:
• a suture needle stop formed in a top side of said tubular shaft for preventing uncontrolled release of said suture needle from the distal opening at the distal end of said tubular shaft, wherein said suture needle stop is formed in an inner surface of said tubular shaft and opposes said chamfered edge of said tubular shaft, and wherein said needle point stop is distal to said needle relief slot.

A needle sheath comprising:

• a tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of said tubular shaft;
• a stop flange secured to the proximal end of said tubular shaft;
• the distal end of said tubular shaft including a chamfered edge located on a bottom side of said tubular shaft;
• a needle relief slot formed in the bottom side of said tubular shaft, said needle relief slot being proximal to said chamfered edge and having a length that extends along an axis that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft;
• a needle point slot formed in a top side of said tubular shaft, wherein said needle point slot opposes said needle relief slot formed in the bottom side of said tubular shaft, and wherein said needle point slot is distal to said needle relief slot.