Surgical apparatus and method

A method for manipulating a surgical implant within a body through the use of an implant manipulator comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end comprising an implant interface, the method comprising:

• abutting the surgical implant with the implant interface, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a selectively bendable portion comprising a first cross-sectional shape perpendicular to a length of the intermediate portion;
• causing the selectively bendable portion assume a second cross-sectional shape in place of the first cross-sectional shape;
• and
• manipulating the proximal end to urge the surgical implant to or from a desired location within a body;
• wherein the first cross-sectional shape comprises a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, wherein the first end extends at a first angle relative to the second end;
• wherein causing the selectively bendable portion to assume the second cross-sectional shape in place of the first cross-sectional shape comprises exerting a force on the selectively bendable portion acting perpendicular to the length to cause the first end to extend at a second angle relative to the second end, wherein the second angle is significantly greater or less than the first angle.

An apparatus for manipulating a surgical implant, the apparatus comprising:

• a needle comprising:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end comprising an implant interface that retains a surgical implant to urge the surgical implant to or from a desired location within a body;
• and
• an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends, the intermediate portion comprising a selectively bendable portion comprising a first cross-sectional shape perpendicular to a length of the intermediate portion, wherein the first cross-sectional shape comprises a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, wherein, in the first cross-sectional shape, the first end extends at a first angle relative to the second end to provide a first flexural rigidity of the selectively bendable portion;
• and
• a suture passer comprising a bore shaped to receive the needle, the bore comprising a first section and a second section;
• wherein, in response to a force on the selectively bendable portion acting perpendicular to the length, the selectively bendable portion assumes a second cross-sectional shape in place of the first cross-sectional shape, wherein in the second cross-sectional shape, the first end extends at a second angle relative to the second end, wherein the second angle is significantly greater or less than the first angle to provide a second flexural rigidity of the selectively bendable portion lower than the first flexural rigidity;
• wherein, between the first and second sections, the bore is shaped such that, as the selectively bendable portion moves from the first section to the second section, the bore exerts the force on the selectively bendable portion to urge the selectively bendable portion to assume the second cross-sectional shape in place of the first cross-sectional shape.