Angled suture passer and method of use thereof

A suture passing device comprising:

• a shaft having a length and a longitudinal axis;
• a first jaw member and a second jaw member extending from a distal end of the shaft, the first jaw member having a suture capturing aperture and moveable relative to the second jaw member in a first direction, and wherein both the first and second jaw members are angularly or curvedly offset in a second direction relative to the longitudinal axis, the second direction different than the first direction;
• and
• a tissue penetrating member having a puncturing tip, movable between a first position wherein the puncturing tip is recessed within the second jaw member, and a second position in which the tissue penetrating member has collected a length of suture preloaded along a channel in the second jaw member and then extended through the suture capturing aperture with the length of suture.

A method of passing suture through tissue comprising:

• positioning a suture passing device near tissue at a location in a human body, the suture passing device comprising:
• a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, a lumen extending through the shaft along the longitudinal axis;
• a tissue penetrating member positioned substantially within and slidable through the lumen of the shaft, the tissue penetrating member including a distal portion having super-elastic properties, the distal portion further including a transverse opening for carrying a suture therein;
• a first jaw member and a second jaw member connected to the shaft, the first jaw member moveable relative to the second jaw member in a first direction and wherein the first jaw has an opening configured for passage of the distal portion of the tissue penetrating member therethrough, the second jaw member housing at least a portion of the tissue penetrating member;
• a puncturing projection at the distal-most end of the tissue penetrating member and slidable through the second jaw member, the puncturing projection movable between a first position, wherein the distal portion of the tissue penetrating member is in a substantially stressed configuration and substantially contained within the lumen of the shaft, and a second position, wherein the distal portion of the tissue penetrating member is in a substantially curved, unstressed configuration and extendable distally through and beyond the opening in the first jaw member such that the transverse opening of the tissue penetrating member carrying the strand of suture is positioned completely outside of the first jaw member and the second jaw member;
• wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are angularly or curvedly offset from the longitudinal axis in a second direction, different to the first direction;
• actuating the first jaw member to position the tissue between the first jaw member and the second jaw member;
• extending the tissue penetrating member such that the suture is captured on the transverse opening;
• further extending the tissue penetrating member to penetrate the tissue and to form a passage for the suture, whereby the tissue penetrating member passes the suture through the tissue at a location laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the suture passing device.