| abstract |
Suture passers which include a handle assembly, shaft assembly, and jaw assembly. In one embodiment, the handle assembly includes first and second handles joined at a hinge, the second handle pivotable relative to the first handle and guided by an arcuate guiding feature concentric to the hinge. The jaw assembly includes upper and lower jaws, the lower jaw including an open needle track. The open needle track includes entry, tangential and exit segments, each of which is directly visible, directly accessible, and directly inspectable. The lower jaw can be manufactured as a single piece, using a single manufacturing process, which may be injection molding or multi-axis machining. When manufactured by multi-axis machining, all features of the lower jaw may be machined without removal of the jaw piece from the multi-axis machine. Methods of suture passer manufacture and assembly which may provide significant cost savings are disclosed. |