Patent ID: 8123806

Claim:
A method of tensioning suture in connection with an orthopedic repair procedure, comprising: inserting a first suture bundle extending from a tissue graft into a first lateral cleat comprising a slot on a first end face of a bar forming part of a manual suture tensioning device, wherein the bar comprises a substantially linear structure having opposed side faces and opposed top and bottom faces all extending linearly between said first end face and a second opposing end face of the bar; inserting a second suture bundle extending from the tissue graft into a second lateral cleat comprising a slot on the second opposing end face of the bar; wrapping the first suture bundle around a first primary cleat disposed on the first end of the bar, the first primary cleat comprising a pair of slots disposed inwardly of the first lateral cleat, wherein the slots comprising each of the first lateral cleat and the first primary cleat intersect; wrapping the second suture bundle around a second primary cleat disposed on the second end of the bar, the second primary cleat comprising a pair of slots disposed inwardly of the second lateral cleat, wherein the slots comprising each of the second lateral cleat and the second primary cleat intersect; and grasping the bar and evenly applying manual tension to each of the first and second suture bundles.