Device And Methods For Use In Robotic Assisted Surgery For Treatment Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A suture passer device comprising,

• an elongated needle like instrument having a body with an external surface, a first end received by a handle section and a second end with a needle tip;
• said instrument having an insertion hook for securing a suture for insertion and an extraction hook for securing a suture during extraction;
• said insertion hook and said extraction hook defined by an open mouth area located between said insertion hook and said extraction hook, and an internal surface extending from the external surface of the body adjacent to said insertion hook to said external surface of the body adjacent to said extraction hook to form an opening in the body of said suture passer device which receives the suture when said suture is placed into said mouth area;
• said insertion hook securing said suture for delivering an insertion of said suture by said instrument and said extraction hook securing said suture for extraction of said suture by said instrument.