Suture grasping instrument

1. A suture passer, comprising:

(a) a needle extending longitudinally and configured to be manipulated between a catch position and a release position;

(b) a first suture notch extending through the needle, wherein the first suture notch includes a first catch undercut configured to receive a suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread radially inwardly as the needle is manipulated toward a catch direction;

(c) a second suture notch extending through the needle, wherein the second suture notch includes a second catch undercut configured to receive the suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread radially inwardly as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction;

(d) an unsharpened needle tip disposed at a distal end of the needle, wherein the unsharpened needle tip is configured to inhibit damage to tissue when inserting the suture passer into a patient; and

(e) a sheath having a longitudinal bore extending at least partially therethrough, wherein the longitudinal bore is configured to slidably receive the unsharpened needle tip of the needle therein, wherein the sheath includes a closed distal end, wherein the sheath is configured to allow the first and second suture notches to releasably capture the suture thread.

2. The suture passer of claim 1 , wherein the first suture notch further includes a first release cam surface configured to urge the suture thread radially outwardly from the first catch undercut as the needle is manipulated toward a release direction.

3. The suture passer of claim 2 , wherein the needle further includes an outer radial surface and the first release cam surface projects between the first catch undercut and the outer radial surface of the needle.

4. The suture passer of claim 3 , wherein the first catch undercut defines a hooked surface within the first suture notch, wherein the first release cam surface extends continuously from the hooked surface to the outer radial surface of the needle.

5. The suture passer of claim 4 , wherein the first release cam surface extends distally and radially outwardly from the hooked surface to the outer radial surface of the needle.

6. The suture passer of claim 1 , wherein the distal sheath end is configured to pierce the tissue.

7. The suture passer of claim 1 , further comprising a driver operatively connected to the needle and configured to selectively translate the needle longitudinally from the retracted position to the extended position.

8. The suture passer of claim 7 , wherein the driver is further configured to selectively rotate the needle from the retracted position to the extended position.

9. The suture passer of claim 1 , wherein the second suture notch includes a second release cam surface configured to urge the suture thread radially outwardly from the second catch undercut as the needle is manipulated toward the release direction, wherein the needle extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein first suture notch is positioned angularly opposite from the second suture notch about the longitudinal axis.

10. The suture passer of claim 9 , further comprising a third suture notch extending through the needle, wherein the third suture notch includes a third catch undercut configured to receive the suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread radially inwardly as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction.

11. The suture passer of claim 10 , wherein the third suture notch includes a third release cam surface configured to urge the suture thread radially outwardly from the third catch undercut as the needle is manipulated toward the release direction, wherein the needle extends along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first, second, and third suture notches are longitudinally and angularly positioned about the longitudinal axis in a helical arrangement.

12. The suture passer of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip is a domed end.

13. The suture passer of claim 1 , wherein the sheath includes first and second apertures, wherein the first aperture is configured to selectively align with the first suture notch, wherein the second aperture is configured to selectively align with the second suture notch.

14. The suture passer of claim 1 , wherein the first suture notch extends through the needle at a first angular position about a longitudinal axis of the needle, wherein the second suture notch extends through the needle at a second angular position about the longitudinal axis, wherein the second angular position of the second suture notch is angularly opposite from the first angular position of the first suture notch.

15. The suture passer of claim 14 , further comprising a third suture notch extending through the needle at the first angular position and proximally spaced from the first suture notch about the longitudinal axis.

16. A suture passer, comprising:

(a) a needle extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and configured to be manipulated between a catch position and a release position;

(b) a first suture notch extending through the needle at a first angular position about the longitudinal axis, wherein the first suture notch includes:

(i) a first catch portion configured to receive a suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction, and

(ii) a first release portion configured to urge the suture thread from the first catch portion as the needle is manipulated toward the release direction;

(c) a second suture notch extending through the needle at a second angular position about the longitudinal axis, wherein the second angular position of the second suture notch is angularly opposite from the first angular position of the first suture notch, wherein the second suture notch includes:

(i) a second catch portion configured to receive a suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction, and

(ii) a second release portion configured to urge the suture thread from the second catch portion as the needle is manipulated toward the release direction; and

(d) a third suture notch extending through the needle at the first angular position and proximally spaced from the first suture notch about the longitudinal axis, wherein the third suture notch includes:

(i) a third catch portion configured to receive a suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction, and

(ii) a third release portion configured to urge the suture thread from the third catch portion as the needle is manipulated toward the release direction.

17. The suture passer of claim 16 , wherein the second angular position of the second suture notch is disposed 180 degrees angularly opposite from the first angular position of the first suture notch.

18. The suture passer of claim 16 , further comprising a fourth suture notch extending through the needle at the second angular position and longitudinally spaced from the second suture notch about the longitudinal axis, wherein the fourth suture notch includes:

(i) a fourth catch portion configured to receive a suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction, and

(ii) a fourth release portion configured to urge the suture thread from the fourth catch portion as the needle is manipulated toward the release direction.

19. A suture passer, comprising:

(a) a needle extending longitudinally and configured to be manipulated between a catch position and a release position, wherein the needle comprises:

(i) a first suture notch extending through the needle, and

(ii) a second suture notch extending through the needle, wherein the second suture notch is separate from the first suture notch; and

(b) a sheath comprising:

(i) a longitudinal bore extending longitudinally through the sheath, wherein the longitudinal bore is configured to slidably receive the needle therein,

(ii) a first aperture configured to align with the first suture notch in the catch position, wherein the first aperture includes a first catch undercut configured to receive a suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread radially inwardly as the needle is manipulated toward a catch direction, and

(iii) a second aperture configured to align with the second suture notch in the catch position, wherein the second aperture includes a second catch undercut configured to receive the suture thread therein and releasably capture the suture thread radially inwardly as the needle is manipulated toward the catch direction.

20. The suture passer of claim 19 , wherein the sheath includes a closed distal end.