Patent ID: 8105355

Claim:
A suture lock fastening device, comprising: an actuation handle; and a fastening head operatively coupled to the actuation handle, the fastening head including, a body that is constructed and arranged to support a suture lock; a retainer that is constructed and arranged to retain at least a portion of the suture lock in the body, the retainer being constructed and arranged to be irreversibly deformed to release the suture lock from the fastening head, the retention capability of the retainer being substantially reduced when the retainer has been irreversibly deformed upon release of the suture lock so that the deformed retainer is no longer capable of providing adequate retention force that would allow another suture lock to be secured onto a suture; and a cutter with a cutting edge that is constructed and arranged to cut a suture, the cutter being movably supported within the body, the cutter constructed and arranged to engage at least a portion of the suture lock to expel the suture lock from the fastening head.