Importance

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Abstract

The suture retainer according to one aspect of the invention has a retainer body, a suture attachment mechanism (such as a pair of teeth) adapted to hold a suture strand at an attachment point and a suture guide mechanism adapted to maintain an angle between the suture strand and the suture attachment mechanism. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of securing a suture in a suture retainer, including the following steps: providing a suture retainer comprising a retainer body and a suture attachment mechanism; contacting a suture strand with a suture guide to maintain an angle between the suture strand and the suture attachment mechanism; and attaching the suture strand to the retainer body at the suture attachment mechanism. Yet another aspect of the invention provides a suturing method including the steps of: attaching a first end of a suture strand to a suture retainer; contacting a tissue contact portion of the suture strand with tissue to be sutured, the tissue contact portion being disposed between the first end of the suture strand and a second end of the suture strand; contacting the second end of the suture strand with a suture guide to maintain an angle between the suture strand and one of suture attachment mechanisms; and attaching the second end of the suture strand to the suture retainer at a suture attachment point.

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First Claim