Suture retention device

Abstract

The present invention provides a tissue retractor ( 2 ) for displacing body tissue during surgery consisting of a tissue piercing member such as a surgical needle ( 20 ), a wire-like filament such as a suture line ( 23 ) affixed to the surgical needle ( 20 ), a fixed element such as an anchoring port ( 90 ) being associated with a stable surgical platform such as a sternum retractor ( 1 ), and a movable element such as an anchoring plug ( 25 ) cooperating with anchoring port ( 90 ) to engage a portion of suture line ( 23 ) after the suture line ( 23 ) is threaded through the body tissue with the surgical needle ( 20 ) and after the suture wire ( 20 ) is tensioned to effect a predetermined displacement of the body tissue. The predetermined displacement of body tissue is maintained by retention of the engaged portion of suture line ( 23 ) by the fixed anchoring port ( 90 ) and the movable anchoring plug ( 25 ).

1 . A suture retention device attachable to a surgical platform for retracting a surgical incision, said suture retention device comprising: 
 a first member;    a second member;    said first member and second members configured to create a retention slot for receiving a surgical suture;    wherein said first and second members cooperate to frictionally retain said surgical suture relative to said surgical platform when said surgical suture is placed within said retention slot.