Patent ID: 7722632

Claim:
A device for holding a surgical suture, the device comprising: a base having a top side, a front edge, and a back edge; a first guide body projecting from the top side, the guide body forming a wedge defining opposing first and second guide faces each having an entrance side adjacent the front edge and an exit side adjacent the back edge; a first cam body pivotally mounted to the top side, the first cam body forming a toothed surface positioned to secure a surgical suture between the toothed surface and the first guide face when the suture is tensioned in a first direction, and release the surgical suture when the suture is tensioned in an opposite direction; a first bearing member; a first spring member positioned between the first cam body and the first bearing member such that the first spring member biases the toothed surface toward the first guide face; a second cam body pivotally mounted to the top side forming a toothed surface positioned to selectively secure a surgical suture against the second guide face; a second bearing member; and a second spring member positioned between the second cam body and the second bearing member for biasing the toothed surface of the second cam body toward the second guide face; wherein the device is characterized by an absence of a channel formed at the front edge opposite the entrance side of the first guide body, and further characterized by the interface being open opposite the top side.