looking first at fig1 and 17 , there is shown a novel suture passer 5 formed in accordance with the present invention . suture passer 5 generally comprises an elongated shaft 10 having a distal jaw 15 disposed at the distal end of elongated shaft 10 and a handle 20 disposed at the proximal end of elongated shaft 10 . looking next at fig1 - 25 , distal jaw 15 is intended to releasably carry a suture 25 thereon . to this end , and as will hereinafter be discussed in further detail , distal jaw 15 has a suture slot 30 ( fig1 ) formed therein . in one preferred form of the present invention , suture slot 30 is sized so that suture 25 can slide easily therein . and in one preferred form of the present invention , suture slot 30 comprises a proximal longitudinal section 35 , and intermediate diagonal section 40 , and a distal longitudinal section 45 . distal jaw 15 also includes a slot 50 ( fig2 ) at its distal end . a distal jaw spring 55 ( fig1 ) is movably mounted in slot 50 . more particularly , distal jaw spring 55 is mounted to elongated shaft 10 at the proximal end of the distal jaw spring , e . g ., via a pair of pins 60 extending through the proximal end of the distal jaw spring , such that the distal end of distal jaw spring 55 can flex downwardly relative to distal jaw 15 , in a cantilever fashion . a suture seat 70 ( fig2 ) is disposed at the free end of distal jaw spring 55 . suture seat 70 preferably has an inclined surface 72 thereon to act as a ramp to aid the inner needle 80 ( and / or the outer needle 85 ) ( see below ) in displacing the distal jaw spring 55 downward during the inner and outer needles &# 39 ; deployment stroke , as will hereinafter be discussed in further detail . distal jaw spring 55 and suture seat 70 are sized and positioned relative to distal jaw 15 so that suture seat 70 normally protrudes across suture slot 30 under the influence of distal jaw spring 55 . however , suture seat 70 can be forced out of suture slot 30 by overcoming the bias of distal jaw spring 55 , e . g ., by camming , as will hereinafter be discussed . as a result of this construction , a suture 25 disposed in suture slot 30 can be releasably held in the suture slot ( and hence releasably held to distal jaw 15 ) with a light friction fit by distal jaw spring 55 and suture seat 70 . still looking now at fig1 - 25 , suture passer 5 also comprises three elements which are movable relative to elongated shaft 10 and distal jaw 15 , i . e ., a proximal jaw 75 , an inner needle 80 and an outer needle 85 , with outer needle 85 being disposed co - axial with , and intermediate , inner needle 80 and proximal jaw 75 . more particularly , proximal jaw 75 includes a lumen 90 for slidably receiving outer needle 85 and inner needle 80 ( fig1 ). outer needle 85 comprises a lumen 95 for slidably receiving inner needle 80 , and includes a beveled tip 100 ( fig2 ) which closely surrounds inner needle 80 ( fig2 - 23 ). inner needle 80 preferably comprises a sharp distal tip 105 , an inclined surface 107 and a suture slot 110 . suture slot 110 is preferably in the form of a “ crochet hook ”, in the sense that it includes a return 115 extending alongside a portion of the suture slot , whereby to provide a “ crochet hook ” effect for the distal end of inner needle 80 . returning now to fig1 and 17 , handle 20 preferably includes a grip 120 for seating in the palm of the user &# 39 ; s hand , and a trigger 125 for actuation by the user &# 39 ; s fingers . handle 20 is constructed so that , by pulling trigger 125 towards grip 120 , and thereafter releasing trigger 125 , proximal jaw 75 , inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 can be moved in a sequenced manner relative to elongated shaft 10 and distal jaw 15 , and in a sequenced manner relative to one another , whereby to pass suture through tissue , as will hereinafter be discussed in further detail . significantly , due to the construction employed by suture passer 5 , suture can be arthroscopically passed through even the tough fibrous capsule of the hip joint , whereby to permit arthroscopic suturing of the fibrous capsule . as a result , the present invention makes it more practical for a surgeon to arthroscopically operate on the hip joint by first laying open the fibrous capsule , performing the desired procedure on the hip joint , and then closing the fibrous capsule by suturing at the conclusion of the procedure . looking now at fig1 and 19 , proximal jaw 75 is initially retracted proximally relative to distal jaw 15 so as to provide a gap 127 therebetween , inner needle 80 is initially retracted so that its distal end resides within lumen 90 of proximal jaw 75 , and outer needle 85 is initially retracted so that its distal end resides proximal to the distal end of inner needle 80 . a suture 25 is slipped into suture slot 30 of distal jaw 15 and then pulled distally so that the suture sits at the convergence of proximal longitudinal section 35 and intermediate diagonal section 40 of suture slot 30 — this action causes the suture to engage the inclined surface 72 of suture seat 70 and thereby drive ( i . e ., cam ) suture seat 70 ( and the free end of distal jaw spring 55 ) downwardly far enough for the suture to slip above suture seat 70 , whereupon suture seat 70 ( and distal jaw spring 55 ) press upwardly so as to releasably capture suture 25 in suture slot 30 via the spring - biased suture seat 70 . with suture passer 5 in this condition , the distal end of the suture passer is ready to be advanced to the remote site where tissue is to be sutured . by way of example but not limitation , the distal end of suture passer 5 may be arthroscopically advanced to a laid - open fibrous capsule in the hip joint , in order to suture closed the laid - open fibrous capsule at the conclusion of an arthroscopic procedure . once the distal end of suture passer 5 is disposed at the remote site , the suture passer is maneuvered so that the tissue which is to be sutured is located in the gap 127 between distal jaw 15 and proximal jaw 75 . alternatively , and / or additionally , the tissue which is to be sutured may be maneuvered ( e . g ., with a supplemental tool ) so that the tissue is located in the gap 127 between distal jaw 15 and proximal jaw 75 . looking next at fig2 and 27 , proximal jaw 75 is then advanced longitudinally towards distal jaw 15 so as to securely clamp the tissue which is to be sutured between the two jaw members . preferably inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 are advanced in conjunction with proximal jaw 75 , in the manner shown in fig2 . once the tissue has been securely clamped between distal jaw 15 and proximal jaw 75 , inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 are advanced together , as a unit , out of proximal jaw 75 and through the tissue . see fig2 and 29 . as this occurs , outer needle 85 closely supports inner needle 80 , and vice - versa , thereby providing increased column strength for the two needles and permitting the two relatively thin needles to pass through tough tissue , e . g ., the tough fibrous capsule of the hip . in this respect it should be appreciated that this mutual needle support ( for increased column strength ) is a very important aspect of the present invention , since it enables the two relatively thin needles to pass through extremely tough tissue ( e . g ., the fibrous capsule of the hip ), tissue which neither needle could easily pass through alone , or which a single needle might pass through alone but not accurately along the desired axis of travel ( e . g ., the single needle might diverge from a straight path and miss a target zone on the other side of the tissue ). in addition to the foregoing , it should also be appreciated that , significantly , proximal jaw 75 also supports inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 during their passage through tissue , since only short lengths of inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 extend beyond ( i . e ., out of ) proximal jaw 75 . again , this needle - reinforcing construction helps enable the two relatively thin needles to pass through extremely tough tissue ( e . g ., the fibrous capsule of the hip ) which they might not otherwise be able to penetrate on their own , or which they might not otherwise be able to penetrate accurately on their own . inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 continue to move distally as a unit until the distal tips of inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 exit the far side of the tissue and the distal tip of inner needle 80 starts to enter distal jaw 15 . at or near this point , forward advancement of outer needle 85 is stopped , and inner needle 80 advances alone . as inner needle 80 advances , its inclined surface 107 engages the inclined surface 72 of suture seat 70 and / or suture 25 , thereby causing suture seat 70 and distal jaw spring 55 to be cammed downwardly , and thereby releasing suture 25 from the capture previously provided by suture seat 70 and distal jaw spring 55 ( fig3 - 33 ). as this occurs , suture 25 is urged distally within suture slot 30 , with intermediate diagonal section 40 and distal longitudinal section 45 accommodating suture 25 . inner needle 80 continues to move distally until suture slot 110 in inner needle 80 is positioned above suture 25 ( fig3 and 35 ), whereupon distal jaw spring 55 and suture seat 70 deliver suture 25 up into suture slot 110 in inner needle 80 ( fig3 and 35 ). inner needle 80 is then retracted , carrying suture 25 with it , until suture 25 encounters the bevelled tip 100 of outer needle 85 , whereupon suture 25 is locked between the two needles ( fig3 ). then inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 are retracted proximally , as a unit , drawing suture 25 through the tissue which is clamped between distal jaw 15 and proximal jaw 75 . see fig3 . once suture 25 has been passed through the tissue which is clamped between distal jaw 15 and proximal jaw 75 , proximal jaw 75 is retracted , thereby releasing the tissue ( which has suture 25 passing therethrough ) from the suture passer . see fig3 . this passed suture may then be used in ways well known in the art , e . g ., so as to stitch closed a laid - open fibrous capsule . in one preferred form of the invention , and looking now at fig3 and 40 , shaft 10 , distal jaw 15 , handle 20 and proximal jaw 75 are formed as one assembly ( e . g ., such as the tool assembly 130 shown in fig3 and 40 ), and inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 are formed as another assembly ( e . g ., such as the needle assembly 135 shown in fig3 and 40 ). such a construction can be highly advantageous , since it permits tool assembly 130 to be reusable and needle assembly 135 to be disposable . in one preferred form of the invention , and looking now at fig4 - 44 , needle assembly 135 comprises ( i ) the aforementioned outer needle 85 and a hub 140 secured to the proximal end of outer needle 85 , and ( ii ) the aforementioned inner needle 80 and a tab 145 secured to the proximal end of inner needle 80 . a spring 150 is disposed between hub 140 and tab 145 , so as to yieldably bias hub 140 and tab 145 away from one another . as a result , spring 150 yieldably biases inner needle 80 proximally relative to outer needle 85 , as will hereinafter be discussed in further detail . looking next at fig4 - 48 , handle 20 preferably has a needle carriage 155 movably mounted therein . needle carriage 155 includes a tab slot 160 for receiving tab 145 of needle assembly 135 , as will hereinafter be discussed . trigger 125 is connected to needle carriage 155 so that moving trigger 125 towards grip 120 causes needle carriage 155 to move distally relative to handle 20 . preferably trigger 125 is connected to needle carriage 155 via a pin - and - slot mechanism , i . e ., a pin 165 riding in a slot 170 . a spring 175 ( fig4 ), engaging a pin 180 extending out of needle carriage 155 , biases needle carriage 155 proximally relative to handle 20 ( and hence biases trigger 125 away from grip 120 ). spring 175 ensures that needle carriage 155 is returned to the full proximal position when trigger 125 is released . handle 20 also includes a flange seat 185 ( fig4 ) movably mounted therein . flange seat 185 is spring - mounted to needle carriage 155 so that flange seat 185 is spring - biased distally from needle carriage 155 . in one preferred form of the invention , flange seat 185 is spring - mounted to needle carriage 155 via a pair of posts 190 ( fig4 ) and a pair of springs 195 . flange seat 185 is adapted to receive a locating flange 200 on hub 140 as will hereinafter be discussed . handle 20 also includes a proximal jaw carriage 205 ( fig4 ) movably mounted therein . proximal jaw carriage 205 is connected to the proximal end of proximal jaw 75 so that the two elements move as a unit . an extension 210 of a spring 215 is seated in an opening 220 formed in proximal jaw carriage 205 so that spring 215 biases proximal jaw carriage 205 proximally , and hence biases proximal jaw 75 proximally , as will hereinafter be discussed . needle assembly 135 is loaded into tool assembly 130 by fitting locating flange 200 of hub 140 into flange seat 185 , and by fitting tab 145 into tab slot 160 of needle carriage 155 . see fig4 . on account of the foregoing construction , when trigger 125 is moved towards grip 120 , proximal jaw carriage 205 is moved distally by extension 210 of spring 215 , thereby causing proximal jaw 75 to move distally so as to engage tissue disposed in the gap 127 between distal jaw 15 and proximal jaw 75 . as this occurs , needle carriage 155 also moves distally , which in turn causes tab 145 ( and hence inner needle 80 ) to also move distally . at the same time , due to the relative rigidity of springs 195 ( fig4 ), flange seat 185 also moves distally , causing hub 140 ( and hence outer needle 85 ) to also move distally , thereby causing inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 to move distally as a unit . this coordinated distal movement of proximal jaw 75 , inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 continues until the force applied to the tissue by proximal jaw 75 equates to the maximum force that spring 215 ( fig4 ) can apply . spring 215 then begins to wind up , whereupon proximal jaw carriage 205 stops moving distally ( and hence proximal jaw 75 stops moving distally ), while needle carriage 155 keeps moving distally , thereby causing inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 to continue moving distally , whereby to penetrate the tissue in unison . continued movement of trigger 125 toward grip 120 causes the elements to move further distally until flange seat 185 engages a stop 225 formed in handle 20 ( fig4 ), thereby preventing further distal movement of flange seat 185 , and hence preventing further distal movement of hub 140 , and hence preventing further distal movement of outer needle 85 . however , continued movement of trigger 125 toward grip 120 causes tab 145 to be moved distally ( fig5 ) so as to overcome the power of spring 150 ( fig4 ), so that inner needle 80 is advanced distally relative to outer needle 85 , whereby to permit inner needle 80 to engage suture seat 70 , cam it out of the way , and align its suture slot 110 with suture 25 . the amount of relative movement between inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 can be set in a variety of ways , including having flange seat 185 stop forward distal progress of needle carriage 155 . alternatively , further movement of trigger 125 can be stopped by grip 120 at a set position so as to limit longitudinal movement of inner needle 80 relative to outer needle 85 . releasing trigger 125 causes , sequentially , needle carriage 155 to withdraw proximally so as to permit inner needle 80 to be moved proximally by spring 150 while hub 140 ( and hence outer needle 85 ) remains stationary , thereby picking up suture 25 in suture slot 110 and then capturing suture 25 between inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 . continued release of trigger 125 causes tab 145 and hub 140 ( and hence inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 ) to move proximally as a unit , and hence causes inner needle 80 and outer needle 85 to withdraw back through the tissue as a unit , carrying the suture therewith . continued release of trigger 125 causes spring extension 210 to move proximal jaw carriage 205 proximally , whereby to withdraw proximal jaw 75 from the tissue , thereby releasing the tissue from suture passer 5 , with suture 25 extending through the tissue . it should be appreciated that the portion of distal jaw spring 55 which aids in holding suture 25 to distal jaw 15 can take many forms other than that shown in fig2 and 25 . by way of example but not limitation , the spring surface that comes into contact with the suture can have a single tooth , multiple teeth or a roughened finish so as to promote the spring &# 39 ; s ability to hold the suture . this portion of the distal jaw spring can also have a perpendicular surface that acts to keep suture 25 from moving distally as inner needle 80 passes over the suture . thus , fig5 a , 50 b and 50 c show one alternative form of distal jaw spring 55 . in this form of the invention , suture seat 70 has its inclined surface 72 formed with an arcuate configuration to receive inner needle 80 during its forward stroke , and includes teeth 226 for positively engaging suture 25 and forcing it against the opposing side wall of the suture slot . in addition , the proximal end of distal jaw spring 55 is modified so that only one pin 60 ( fig1 ) is required — this pin 60 acts as a pivot pin , and clockwise motion of distal jaw spring 55 about this pivot pin is limited by a stop surface 227 which engages a corresponding stop surface on shaft 10 . fig5 d , 50 e and 50 f show another alternative form of distal jaw spring 55 . in this form of the invention , suture seat 70 has a backstop feature 228 to limit distal migration of suture 25 when inner needle 80 is driving past the suture during the needle &# 39 ; s forward stroke . in addition to the foregoing , distal jaw spring 55 can be made from one or more materials including plastic , metal and , more specifically , superelastic materials such as nitinol . the cantilevered portion of distal jaw spring 55 may be one material and the suture - capturing portion of the spring may be another material . fig5 and 52 show an alternative form of outer needle 85 . in this form of the invention , outer needle 85 includes a suture slot 230 at its distal end . suture slot 230 in outer needle 85 is aligned with , and cooperates with , suture slot 110 in inner needle 80 so as to form a positive suture seat between the two needles when inner needle 80 is retracted toward outer needle 85 , whereby to securely capture suture 25 to the two needles . fig5 and 54 show an alternative form of inner needle 80 . in this form of the invention , inner needle 80 is hollow , so that objects and / or fluids can be passed through the interior of the inner needle . fig5 - 68 show another preferred construction for the present invention . more particularly , the construction shown in fig5 - 68 is generally similar to the construction shown in fig1 - 38 , except that ( i ) suture slot 30 comprises a proximal diagonal section 235 ( fig5 ) and a distal substantially vertical section 240 , and ( ii ) suture seat 70 is replaced by a suture capture block 245 ( fig5 ). in this form of the invention , suture 25 follows the diagonal / vertical configuration of suture slot 30 , and suture capture block 245 acts to stabilize suture 25 for positive pickup by inner needle 80 . fig6 - 84 show another preferred construction of the present invention . more particularly , the construction shown in fig6 - 84 is generally similar to the construction shown in fig5 - 68 , except that ( i ) distal jaw spring 55 and suture capture block 245 are replaced by a distal jaw spring 250 ( fig8 ) having a suture guide slot 255 formed therein , and ( ii ) outer needle 85 is replaced by the outer needle 85 with suture slot 230 shown in fig5 and 52 . in this form of the invention , suture 25 is spring - held in suture guide slot 255 , and follows the path of suture slot 30 as distal jaw spring 250 is displaced by inner needle 80 . fig8 - 89 show alternative constructions for releasably capturing suture 25 to distal jaw spring 250 . fig9 shows another preferred construction of the present invention . more particularly , the construction shown in fig9 is generally similar to the construction shown in fig6 - 84 , except that outer needle 85 lacks suture slot 230 and may or may not directly engage suture 25 and may or may not assist in capturing suture 25 to inner needle 80 . fig9 a , 90 b and 90 c show another preferred embodiment of the present invention . more particularly , in this form of the invention , outer needle 85 is formed with an inclined tip 256 , however , this inclined tip is offset 180 degrees from the inclined surface 107 of inner needle 80 , whereby to enhance suture gripping between suture slot 110 of inner needle 80 and inclined tip 256 of outer needle 85 . furthermore , in this form of the invention , distal jaw spring 55 is omitted and suture 25 is held in suture slot 30 of distal jaw 15 by friction . fig9 d , 90 e , 90 f , 90 g and 90 i show a suture passing operation using the suture passer of fig9 a , 90 b and 90 c . it should also be noted that inner needle 80 can be replaced by a wire with a loop on the end that can capture the suture ( e . g ., in the manner of a suture threader ) and pull it into the outer needle . see , for example , fig9 - 94 , where a wire 260 , having a hook 265 , grapples the suture and pulls it into outer needle 85 . fig9 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention . more particularly , in this form of the invention , the longitudinally - reciprocating proximal jaw 75 of the suture passer shown in fig1 and 17 is replaced by a pivoting proximal jaw 270 . more particularly , proximal jaw 270 is mounted to elongated shaft 10 via a pivot pin 275 , such that longitudinal motion of a drive rod 280 ( connected at its proximal end to proximal jaw carriage 205 ) causes proximal jaw 270 to pivot about pivot pin 275 , whereby to open and close the jaw relative to distal jaw 15 . it should be appreciated that the present invention may be used to arthroscopically suture the fibrous capsule of the hip joint , so as to facilitate arthroscopic procedures on the hip joint . the present invention can also be used to arthroscopically suture other tissue , both in the hip joint and in locations other than the hip joint . it should be understood that many additional changes in the details , materials , steps and arrangements of parts , which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the present invention , may be made by those skilled in the art while still remaining within the principles and scope of the invention .
a suture passer including a shaft having an axis ; a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis , the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon ; a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft ; and a needle movably mounted to the shaft , the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw ; wherein the first jaw includes a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw .