Apparatus and Method for Passing Suture Through Soft Tissue

A suture passing device, comprising:

• a suture;
• a hand grip;
• a needle assembly comprising a deformable tubular needle, said deformable tubular needle comprising a tissue piercing first distal end, a first internal lumen and a curvilinear portion, said curvilinear portion of said tubular needle being configured to transition from an unconstrained state to a constrained state, said tubular needle first distal end being configured to releasably engage said suture;
• a cleat member disposed at least partially within said first internal lumen of said tubular needle, said cleat member comprising a second distal end, said cleat member being configured to protrude distally outward from said tubular needle first internal lumen, said cleat member being configured to pierce and releasably engage said suture;
• and
• an elongated tubular member in communication with said hand grip comprising a third distal end, a second internal lumen and a jaw mechanism,
• said second internal lumen being configured to receive said deformable needle and allow said tubular needle to slidably translate therethrough in a first constrained state,
• said jaw mechanism being disposed proximate said tubular member third distal end, said jaw mechanism comprising a bottom member, said bottom member comprising proximal and distal ends, said jaw mechanism bottom member comprising a first guide channel in aligned communication with said tubular member second internal lumen, said first guide channel comprising a first curvilinear geometry that is configured to approximate and receive said curvilinear portion of said tubular needle when said tubular needle is slidably translated therethrough, said tubular needle being configured to transition from a second constrained state to an unconstrained state when said tubular needle is slidably translated into and through said first guide channel,
• said jaw mechanism comprising a top member, said top member comprising proximal and distal ends,
• said jaw mechanism top member comprising a needle shield in operative communication therewith, said needle shield being configured to deflect and flex when said tubular needle is slidably translated into said needle shield, said needle shield being configured to protect extraneous biological tissue from said tubular needle distal end, and enable antegrade and retrograde advancement of said suture into and through biological tissue during a surgical procedure.