Suture passer with radiused upper jaw

A suture passer device for passing a suture through a meniscus, the device comprising:

• an elongate body extending distally and proximally along a long axis;
• a first arm that extends from the elongate body and is axially movable distally and proximally relative to the elongate body along the long axis;
• a second arm extending distally from the elongate body, wherein an upper surface of the second arm is radiused with a radius of curvature of between about 0.5 cm and about 20 cm and curves away from the long axis;
• further wherein the first arm and the second arm form a distal-facing opening between the second arm and the first arm;
• and
• a tissue penetrator configured to extend across the distal opening between the first and second arms to pass the suture there between.

A suture passer device for passing a suture through the meniscus, the device comprising:

• an elongate body having a length and extending distally and proximally along a long axis;
• a first arm that is axially movable distally and proximally relative to the elongate body along the long axis,
• a second arm extending distally from the elongate body, wherein an upper surface of the second arm is radiused with a radius of curvature of between about 0.5 cm and about 20 cm;
• further wherein the second arm is pivotably attached to a distal end region of the elongate body and the first arm and second arm form a distal-facing opening between the distal region of the second arm and the distal region of the removable first arm when the removable first arm is extended distally;
• and
• a tissue penetrator housed within the first arm that is configured to extend across the distal-facing opening to pass a suture there between.