Suture passer/retriever

A method of repairing soft tissue comprising:

• positioning an eyelet of a suture passer at a first position relative to a tear in soft tissue of a patient, the eyelet being located on a shaft that extends along a first longitudinal axis;
• engaging suture with a first needle of the suture passer, the needle having a sharp tip and a needle body that extends along a second longitudinal axis;
• puncturing the soft tissue with the sharp tip of the needle along a first path through the tissue, and subsequently moving the first needle and the suture engaged thereto through the eyelet so that the suture couples to the shaft;
• withdrawing the first needle from the eyelet and through the soft tissue along the first path while leaving the suture coupled to the shaft;
• moving the eyelet from the first position to a second position relative to the tear in the soft tissue;
• puncturing the soft tissue with the sharp tip of the needle along a second path through the tissue, and subsequently (i) moving the first needle through the eyelet, and (ii) capturing the suture with the first needle and withdrawing the suture through the soft tissue along the second path using the first needle;
• and
• reducing the tear in the soft tissue using the suture.

A suture passer comprising:

• a first needle extending along a first longitudinal axis, wherein the first needle has a sharp tip and a first hook member configured to grasp a portion of a suture;
• a shaft extending along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft has an eyelet that intersects with the first longitudinal axis of the first needle;
• and
• an actuation mechanism coupled to the first needle, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to rotate the first needle about the first longitudinal axis,
• and wherein actuating the actuation mechanism moves the first needle to a position in which the first needle's sharp tip extends through the eyelet, and releasing the actuation mechanism moves the first needle to a position in which the first needle's sharp tip is a spaced apart a distance proximal of the eyelet.