Suture passing instruments and methods

1. A surgical device comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a handle assembly including a first actuator and a second actuator each moveably coupled to a handle portion that is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft;

a jaw assembly located at the distal end of the shaft and including a fixed jaw defining a curved needle track and an actuating jaw moveably coupled to the fixed jaw, wherein the second actuator is configured to move the actuating jaw relative to the fixed jaw;

a curved needle slidable within the curved needle track, wherein the curved needle track is defined by curved top and bottom surfaces that substantially match a curvature of the curved needle; and

a third actuator coupled to the first actuator and to a proximal portion of the curved needle,

wherein a coupling between the third actuator and the proximal portion of the curved needle allows the first actuator to move the curved needle via the third actuator without deforming the curved needle.

2. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling between the third actuator and the proximal portion of the curved needle is a pivot joint.

3. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling between the third actuator and the proximal portion of the curved needle permits proximal-distal movement and superior-inferior movement of a distal end of the third actuator.

4. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the substantially matched curvatures of the curved needle and the curved needle track permit movement of the curved needle through the curved track without deformation of the curved needle.

5. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the third actuator includes a wider proximal region that tapers to a narrower distal region.

6. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the third actuator travels along a curvature of the curved needle track during actuation of the third actuator.

7. The surgical device of claim 1 , where the fixed jaw includes an opening at a distal portion thereof exposing a suture carrying slot of the curved needle such that a suture can be loaded outside the shaft.

8. The surgical device of claim 7 , wherein the opening has a mouth at a side surface of the fixed jaw.

9. The surgical device of claim 7 , where the actuating jaw includes an opening at a distal portion thereof to expose the suture carrying slot when the jaw assembly is closed.

10. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator includes a first extension pivotally coupled to the handle portion and a second extension pivotally coupled to the first extension, where the second extension includes a locking surface moveably engageable with a locking surface on the handle portion, such that when engaged, the locking surfaces locks the jaw assembly.

11. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the curved needle includes a member that is disposed within a slot of the third actuator.

12. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is spring biased against the handle portion to maintain the curved needle within the curved track when the surgical device is at rest.

13. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the curved needle is comprised of stainless steel.

14. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the curved needle has a rectangular cross-sectional profile.

15. The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a port that permits fluids to pass through the shaft and toward the jaw assembly.

16. A suture passing instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a handle assembly located at the proximal end of the shaft and including a needle actuator moveably coupled to a handle portion, a trigger lever moveably coupled to the handle portion, the handle portion coupled to the proximal end of the shaft;

a jaw assembly including an actuating jaw moveably coupled to a fixed jaw, the fixed jaw located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein actuation of the trigger lever moves the actuating jaw relative to the fixed jaw to open and close the jaw assembly;

a curved needle comprised of stainless steel and slidable within a curved needle track of the fixed jaw, wherein the curved needle track is defined by curved top and bottom surfaces that substantially match a curvature of the curved needle to permit movement of the curved needle through the curved track without being deformed, the curved needle having a suture carrying slot at a distal portion; and

a needle linkage having a first end coupled to a proximal section of the curved needle at a pivot joint and a second end coupled to the needle actuator, such that movement of the needle actuator advances the needle linkage to move the curved needle through the curved track without deforming the curved needle, where the pivot joint permits proximal-distal movement and superior-inferior movement of a distal end of the needle actuator.

17. The suture passing instrument of claim 16 , wherein the substantially matched curvatures of the curved needle and the curved needle track permit movement of the curved needle through the curved track without deformation of the curved needle.

18. The suture passing instrument of claim 16 , wherein the needle actuator includes a wider proximal region that tapers to a narrower distal region.

19. The suture passing instrument of claim 16 , where the fixed jaw includes an opening at a distal end exposing the suture carrying slot for loading of the suture external to the shaft.

20. The suture passing instrument of claim 19 , wherein the opening has a mouth at a side surface of the fixed jaw.