Patent ID: 8317806

Claim:
A suture tensioning device, comprising: a housing a lumen extending therethrough that defines a longitudinal axis; and a movable tensioning member comprising: a mounting block constrained to move axially within an axial passage in said housing along a second axis that is laterally offset from said longitudinal axis; and a shaft portion protruding from said mounting block configured to have a portion of a suture wound therearound such that a distal portion of the suture extends in a distal direction from the movable tensioning member to be anchored to tissue and a proximal portion of the suture protrudes from the movable tensioning member to have tension applied thereto; a spool attached to said shaft portion such that the portion of the suture may be wound therearound; a first resilient member for applying a first resistive force to said movable tensioning member in a first direction, wherein said first resilient member comprises a first coil spring; and a second resilient member applying a second resistive force to said movable tensioning member in a second direction opposite to said first direction, wherein said second resilient member comprises a second coil spring; and wherein said mounting block is centrally disposed between said first and second resilient members.