A surgical instrument includes first and second members configured to receive tissue therebetween. The first member is adapted to receive suture, the second member is coupled to the first member, and a grasper coupled to the second member engages the suture received by the first member. A method of passing suture includes loading suture into a first member of a suture passing surgical instrument, stabilizing tissue between the first member and a second member of the surgical instrument, passing suture through tissue via the first member of the surgical instrument, holding the passed suture via suture grasper of the surgical instrument, and removing the first member from the tissue. Advantageously, a novel bendable or deflectable needle may be utilized, e.g., in conjunction with the surgical instrument. The bendable or deflectable needle may have one or more unique configuration with respect to a suture slot defined in a distal portion thereof.
