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 a longitudinal axis;
• a first jaw located at a distal end of the shaft and comprising a slot that faces in a proximal direction for receiving a portion of a suture such that the portion of the suture extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• a second jaw translatably mounted to the shaft, wherein the second jaw can be translated toward the first jaw for gripping a portion of tissue between the first and second jaws;
• and
• a needle extending at least partially within the second jaw and translatable relative to the second jaw so that the needle can be advanced toward the distal end of the shaft and can extend out of the second jaw through the portion of tissue gripped between the first and second jaws, the needle comprising a hook for hooking the portion of the suture received in the slot of the first jaw, wherein after hooking the portion of the suture, the needle can pull the suture out of the slot and free the suture of the first jaw.

A method of passing a suture through a portion of tissue, the method comprising:

• retaining a portion of a suture in a slot of a first jaw located at a distal end of a shaft of a suture passer, the slot facing in a proximal direction and oriented so that the portion of the suture extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• disposing the portion of tissue between the first jaw and a second jaw that is translatably mounted to the shaft;
• gripping the portion of tissue by translating the second jaw along the shaft toward the first jaw;
• advancing a distal portion of a needle movably mounted to the shaft through the portion of tissue and hooking the suture with a hook of the needle;
• and
• retracting the distal portion of the needle back through the portion of tissue to pull the suture out of the slot and free of the first jaw and pass the suture through the portion of tissue.

A suture passer comprising:

• a shaft;
• a first jaw located at a distal end of the shaft;
• a second jaw slidably mounted to the shaft proximally of the first jaw;
• a needle slidably mounted to the shaft;
• a handle assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to move relative to the second portion when a user squeezes on the handle assembly and the handle assembly is operatively connected to the second jaw and needle so that squeezing the first and second portions together by a first amount moves the second jaw toward the first jaw for gripping a portion of tissue between the jaws and squeezing the first and second portions together by a second amount advances the needle through the portion of tissue gripped between the first and second jaws.

A method of passing a suture through a portion of tissue, the method comprising:

• grasping a handle assembly of a suture passer, wherein a first portion of the handle assembly is configured to move relative to a second of the handle assembly when a user squeezes on the handle assembly;
• squeezing the first portion and the second portion together by a first amount to translate a first jaw of the suture passer toward a second jaw of the suture passer for gripping a portion of tissue between the first and second jaws;
• squeezing the first portion and the second portion together by a second amount to translate a needle of the suture passer through the portion of tissue gripped between the first and second jaws and hook a portion of suture on the needle;
• and
• moving the first and second portions apart to retract the needle through the portion of tissue and pass the portion of suture through the portion of tissue.

A suture passer comprising:

• a shaft;
• a first jaw located at a distal end of the shaft;
• a second jaw slidably mounted to the shaft proximally of the first jaw;
• a handle assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to move relative to the second portion when a user squeezes on the handle assembly, the handle assembly is operatively connected to the second jaw so that squeezing the first and second portions together by a first amount moves the second jaw toward the first jaw for gripping a portion of tissue between the jaws, and when a needle is slidably mounted to the shaft, the handle assembly is operatively connected to the needle so that squeezing the first and second portions together by a second amount advances the needle through the portion of tissue gripped between the first and second jaws.