Method and apparatus for treating a hip joint, including the provision and use of a novel suture passer

A suture passer comprising:

• a shaft having an axis;
• a distal jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the distal jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon;
• and
• a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively engage suture releasably supported on the distal jaw;
• wherein the distal jaw comprises a spring for selectively binding the suture to the distal jaw, and further wherein the spring comprises a recess for receiving the suture therein.

A method for passing suture through tissue, the method comprising:

• providing a suture passer, the suture passer comprising:
• a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an axis extending therebetween;
• a handle disposed at the proximal end of the shaft, the handle comprising a trigger;
• a distal jaw mounted to the distal end of the shaft in alignment with the axis;
• and
• a needle movably mounted to the shaft;
• moving the trigger on the handle of the suture passer so as to sequentially perform the following steps:
• releasably clamp tissue to the distal jaw;
• advance the needle through the tissue clamped to the distal jaw;
• advance the needle to pick up a length of suture;
• retract the needle back through the tissue clamped to the distal jaw, with the needle carrying the length of suture therewith;
• and
• release the tissue from the distal jaw.