Devices, systems, and methods for providing surgical access and facilitating closure of surgical access openings

1. A suture passer, comprising:

a shaft;

a first jaw member coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft;

a second jaw member pivotable relative to the first jaw member between open and closed configurations; and

an overstroke assembly including:

a proximal actuator rod;

a distal actuator rod axially movable relative to the shaft and operably coupled to the second jaw member; and

a spring interposed between the proximal and distal actuator rods, wherein distal movement of the proximal actuator rod distally moves the spring and the distal actuator rod to pivot the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member to the open configuration, the spring being configured to compress to allow for independent distal movement of the proximal actuator rod relative to the distal actuator rod in response to an obstruction of the second jaw member.

2. The suture passer according to claim 1 , wherein the overstroke assembly further includes a sleeve disposed within the shaft and longitudinally movable relative to the shaft, the sleeve being disposed about the proximal and distal actuator rods and housing the spring.

3. The suture passer according to claim 2 , wherein the sleeve defines a longitudinally-extending slot, the proximal actuator rod having a pin slidably received in the slot.

4. The suture passer according to claim 3 , wherein when the second jaw member is prevented from opening by an obstruction, an actuation of a handle assembly distally moves the pin from a proximal position within the slot to a distal position within the slot.

5. The suture passer according to claim 4 , wherein the proximal actuator rod is configured to move relative to the sleeve and the distal actuator rod during the distal movement of the pin toward the distal position.

6. The suture passer according to claim 3 , wherein the pin is configured to proximally move the sleeve and the distal actuator rod to move the second jaw member toward the closed configuration.

7. The suture passer according to claim 2 , wherein the distal actuator rod is fixed within the sleeve, and the proximal actuator rod is slip-fit within the sleeve.

8. The suture passer according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member has a proximal end portion pivotably coupled to the distal actuator rod.

9. The suture passer according to claim 1 , wherein the first jaw member has a distal tip configured to pierce tissue.

10. The suture passer according to claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is nested with the first jaw member in the closed configuration.

11. The suture passer according to claim 10 , wherein the first jaw member defines a recessed portion configured to receive the second jaw member when the second jaw member is in the closed configuration.

12. The suture passer according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second jaw members has a suture-contacting surface defining a transverse notch therein, wherein the transverse notches of the first and second jaw members are configured to cooperatively enclose a suture therein.

13. A suture passer, comprising:

a handle assembly;

a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly;

an end effector assembly including:

a first jaw member coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft; and

a second jaw member pivotable relative to the first jaw member between open and closed configurations;

a proximal actuator rod operably coupled to a trigger of the handle assembly, such that a first actuation of the trigger proximally moves the proximal actuator rod;

a distal actuator rod slidably disposed within the shaft and operably coupled to the second jaw member;

a spring interposed between the proximal and distal actuator rods, wherein the proximal actuator rod is configured to distally move the distal actuator rod via the spring in response to a second actuation of the handle assembly, and wherein the spring is configured to compress between the proximal and distal actuator rods upon the proximal actuator rod exerting a distally-oriented, threshold force on the spring; and

a sleeve disposed within the shaft and longitudinally movable relative to the shaft, the sleeve being disposed about the proximal and distal actuator rods and housing the spring.

14. The suture passer according to claim 13 , wherein the distal actuator rod is pivotably coupled to the second jaw member via a pivot pin configured to receive a distally-oriented force from the distal actuator rod, the distally-oriented, threshold force imparted on the spring being lower than a threshold force required to damage the pivot pin.

15. The suture passer according to claim 13 , wherein when the second jaw member is prevented from opening by an obstruction, the second actuation of the trigger distally moves the proximal actuator rod relative to the distal actuator rod to compress the spring therebetween.

16. The suture passer according to claim 13 , wherein the sleeve defines a longitudinally-extending slot, the proximal actuator rod having a pin slidably received in the slot.

17. The suture passer according to claim 16 , wherein when the second jaw member is prevented from opening by an obstruction, the second actuation of the trigger distally moves the pin from a proximal position within the slot to a distal position within the slot.

18. The suture passer according to claim 17 , wherein the proximal actuator rod is configured to move relative to the sleeve and the distal actuator rod during the distal movement of the pin toward the distal position.

19. The suture passer according to claim 18 , wherein the pin is configured to proximally move the sleeve and the distal actuator rod to move the second jaw member toward the closed configuration in response to the first actuation of the trigger.

20. The suture passer according to claim 17 , wherein the distal actuator rod is fixed within the sleeve, and the proximal actuator rod is slip-fit within the sleeve.

21. A method of depositing a portion of a suture into an internal surgical site and/or retrieving a portion of suture from within an internal surgical site, comprising: advancing a suture passer into a surgical site while first and second jaw members of the suture passer are in a closed configuration; and actuating a handle assembly of the suture passer to distally move a proximal actuator rod, proximal and distal ends of a spring, and a distal actuator rod together, whereby the distal actuator rod pivots the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member to transition the first and second jaw members to the open configuration for one of depositing a portion of suture into the internal surgical site or retrieving a portion of the suture from the internal surgical site.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the spring is compressed between the proximal and distal actuator rods when the second jaw member is in a constrained state as the handle assembly is being actuated.

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the proximal actuator rod, the spring, and the distal actuator rod distally move together when the second jaw member is in an unconstrained state as the handle assembly is being actuated.

24. The method according to claim 21 , further comprising:

returning the suture passer to the closed condition; and

withdrawing the suture passer from the internal surgical site.