Apparatus and method for passing suture through soft tissue

1. 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 deformable tubular needle being configured to transition from a plurality of constrained states to an unconstrained state, and from said unconstrained state to said plurality of constrained states, said deformable 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 deformable tubular needle, said cleat member comprising a second distal end, said cleat member being configured to protrude distally outward from said deformable 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 tubular needle and allow said deformable tubular needle to slidably translate therethrough when said deformable tubular needle is in a first constrained state of said plurality of constrained states,

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 deformable tubular needle when said deformable tubular needle is slidably translated therethrough, said deformable tubular needle being configured to transition from a second constrained state of said plurality of constrained states to said unconstrained state when said deformable 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 deformable tubular needle is slidably translated into said needle shield, said needle shield being configured to protect extraneous biological tissue from said deformable tubular needle first distal end, and enable antegrade and retrograde advancement of said suture into and through biological tissue during a surgical procedure.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said deformable tubular needle comprises nickel-titanium alloy.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said surgical procedure comprises an endoscopic procedure.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said jaw mechanism comprises first and second pins, said proximal end of said jaw mechanism top member comprises first and second pin lumens, and said proximal end of said jaw mechanism bottom member comprises a third pin lumen and a pin slot, said first pin lumen and said pin slot being in axial alignment, and said second and third pin lumens being in axial alignment.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein said jaw mechanism top member first pin lumen and said bottom member pin slot are configured to receive and position said jaw mechanism first pin, and wherein, when said jaw mechanism first pin is received by and positioned in said jaw mechanism top member first pin lumen and said bottom member pin slot, said jaw mechanism top member is allowed to vertically articulate with respect to said jaw mechanism bottom member.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein said jaw mechanism top member second pin lumen and said bottom member third pin lumen are configured to receive and position said jaw mechanism second pin, and wherein, when said jaw mechanism second pin is received by and positioned in said jaw mechanism top member second pin lumen and said bottom member third pin lumen, said jaw mechanism top member is allowed to axially articulate with respect to said jaw mechanism bottom member.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein said hand grip comprises an actuator in operative communication with said deformable tubular needle and said jaw mechanism top and bottom members.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein said actuator is configured to modulate said axial articulation of said jaw mechanism top member relative to said jaw mechanism bottom member and said slidable translation of said deformable tubular needle.