A suture retention device, comprising: a housing (12, 14) comprising an inner cavity and a first gripping surface disposed at a side of the inner cavity; a sliding body disposed within said inner cavity and comprising a second gripping surface; a spring disposed within said inner cavity and biasing said sliding body toward a first side of said inner cavity; a suture hole extending through said housing and disposed such that a suture extending through said suture hole is gripped when said spring biases said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity; an actuator disposed at least partially outside of said housing, said actuator comprising an operator engageable surface outside of said housing, wherein said actuator biases said spring and slides said sliding body away from said first side of said inner cavity to separate said first and second gripping surfaces when an operator engages said engageable surface, a suture thereby be slidable through said suture hole; characterized in that: said first gripping surface is disposed along said first side of said inner cavity; biasing said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity serves to enmesh said first and second gripping surfaces; and a suture extending through said suture hole is enmeshed between said first and second gripping surfaces when said spring biases said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity. a housing (12, 14) comprising an inner cavity and a first gripping surface disposed at a side of the inner cavity; a sliding body disposed within said inner cavity and comprising a second gripping surface; a spring disposed within said inner cavity and biasing said sliding body toward a first side of said inner cavity; a suture hole extending through said housing and disposed such that a suture extending through said suture hole is gripped when said spring biases said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity; an actuator disposed at least partially outside of said housing, said actuator comprising an operator engageable surface outside of said housing, wherein said actuator biases said spring and slides said sliding body away from said first side of said inner cavity to separate said first and second gripping surfaces when an operator engages said engageable surface, a suture thereby be slidable through said suture hole; characterized in that: said first gripping surface is disposed along said first side of said inner cavity; biasing said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity serves to enmesh said first and second gripping surfaces; and a suture extending through said suture hole is enmeshed between said first and second gripping surfaces when said spring biases said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity. said first gripping surface is disposed along said first side of said inner cavity; biasing said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity serves to enmesh said first and second gripping surfaces; and a suture extending through said suture hole is enmeshed between said first and second gripping surfaces when said spring biases said sliding body toward said first side of said inner cavity.