Vaginal cuff closure laparoscopic suture passer

A laparoscopic suture passer, comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• a jaw assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft, the jaw assembly comprising first and second jaw members hingedly associated with each other, the jaw members configured for being alternately displaced relative to each other between an open position and a closed position;
• a hollow needle having a blunt end and a sharp end opposite the blunt end, the blunt end of the hollow needle hingedly coupled to the first jaw member for being alternately hinged between a retracted position when the hollow needle is stowed in the first jaw member, and a deployed position when the hollow needle extends away from the first jaw member;
• and
• a linkage assembly extending along the elongated shaft, the linkage assembly comprising a connector extending through a through-hole formed in the blunt end of the needle and being coupled to the blunt end of the needle, wherein the hollow needle is configured for being hinged from the retracted position to the deployed position in response to actuation of the linkage assembly.