Suture retainer with multiple circumferentially spaced attachment points

Abstract

What is claimed is a suture retainer having a retainer body and a plurality of suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about the retainer body, each adapted to hold a suture strand at a discrete attachment point. One embodiment has a wheel portion and a plug portion. The wheel portion has a center aperture that the plug portion is configured to be insertable in and to engage with. The plug portion is configured to receive the non-needle end of a suture strand, securing it in place upon insertion of the plug into the wheel portion. The plug portion has a latch member extending therefrom which pushes the moveable arm into a flexed position during insertion. When the plug portion is fully inserted, the notch engagement ledge associates with the latch member and allows the moveable arm to return to a neutral position and secure the plug portion within the wheel portion.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A suture retainer comprising a retainer body, said retainer body comprising:
 a wheel portion comprising,
 a substantially planar first plate and a substantially planar second plate, said first plate and said second plate defining an outer circumference of said wheel portion, and an upper surface and a lower surface of said wheel portion; 
 said first plate being spaced from said second plate at said outer circumference, thereby forming an outward radially open channel throughout said outer circumference; 
 a plurality of suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about said wheel portion between said first plate and said second plate, wherein each of said suture attachment mechanisms is adapted to hold a suture strand at a discrete attachment point; 
 an aperture extending through, and substantially perpendicular to, said first plate and said second plate; 
 a circumferential side wall surrounding said aperture; 
 an arm member extending into said aperture, said arm member having a free top end, and a secured lower end; 
 said arm member being movable between a neutral position wherein said free top end is in a receiving position at least partially disposed in said aperture, and a flexed position wherein said free top end is placed in an engaged position, wherein said engaged position is closer to said side wall than said receiving position; and 
 said moveable arm member having an engagement ledge; and 
   a plug portion at least partially insertable into and adapted to cooperate with said aperture in said wheel portion, said plug portion comprising,
 a plug body having an insertion end and a second end, and a plug perimeter wall extending between said insertion end and said second end, wherein said plug perimeter wall defines a latch ledge; 
   wherein said plug portion is configured to engage said arm member of said wheel portion, causing said arm member to move into said flexed position, during insertion of said plug portion into said wheel portion; and   wherein said engagement ledge is configured to interface with said latch ledge to retain said plug portion at least partially within said wheel portion.   
     
     
         2 . The suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein each suture attachment mechanism comprises a pair of teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein each suture attachment is adapted to releasably hold said suture strand. 
     
     
         4 . The suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said engagement ledge is located closer to said free top end than to said secured lower end. 
     
     
         5 . The suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said plug body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said insertion end and said second end of said plug body are substantially planar. 
     
     
         7 . The suture retainer according to  claim 6  wherein said insertion end and said second end of said plug body are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         8 . The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein said plug body further comprises a groove formed in said second end. 
     
     
         9 . The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein said plug body further comprises a groove formed in said insertion end. 
     
     
         10 . The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein said wheel portion further comprises a suture guide mechanism projecting from at least one of said first plate and said second plate. 
     
     
         11 . The suture retainer of  claim 10  wherein said suture guide mechanism comprises a projection including a hooked portion radially spaced from the outer circumference of the wheel portion. 
     
     
         12 . The suture retainer of  claim 10  wherein said wheel portion further comprises a suture strand slot disposed in at least one of said first plate and said second plate, and wherein said slot is formed in one of said plates and said suture guide mechanism projects from the other of said plates. 
     
     
         13 . The suture retainer of  claim 1  wherein said wheel portion further comprises a suture strand slot disposed in at least one of said first plate and said second plate. 
     
     
         14 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said plug body further comprises a slot extending inwardly from said plug perimeter wall. 
     
     
         15 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said latch member is a tab member that is flush with said insertion end of said plug body. 
     
     
         16 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said engagement ledge is formed by said free top end of said arm member. 
     
     
         17 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said insertion end and said second end of said plug body lie flush with said upper surface and said lower surface of said wheel portion, respectively, when said engagement ledge and said latch ledge are interfaced. 
     
     
         18 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said insertion end of said latch member is an angled surface angling away from said plug body side wall and in the direction of said second side of said plug body. 
     
     
         19 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said engagement ledge extends laterally from said free top end of said arm member, away from said circumferential side wall. 
     
     
         20 . A suture retainer according to  claim 1  wherein said plug portion is hingedly coupled to said wheel portion. 
     
     
         21 . A suture retainer according to  claim 20  wherein said plug body further comprises an attachment surface extending from said second end, said attachment surface having at least one pin member. 
     
     
         22 . A suture retainer according to  claim 21  wherein said at least one pin member is positioned at a location that is on the opposite side of said plug body from said latch ledge. 
     
     
         23 . A suture retainer according to  claim 20  wherein said wheel portion further comprises at least one pair of arms extending upward from said first plate forming a yoke for receiving said at least one pin member on said plug body.