Apparatus and method for locking sutures

A system for use with a suture, the system comprising:

• multiple suture locks, each suture lock comprising:
• a first lock piece, and
• a second lock piece;
• and
• a tool, the tool comprising:
• at a proximal portion of the tool, a storage zone in which the multiple suture locks are disposed, and
• operable to, for each of the multiple suture locks, sequentially:
• advance the first lock piece and the second lock piece distally from the storage zone to a distal portion of the tool,
• thread the suture through the first lock piece, and
• while the suture remains disposed through the first lock piece:
• secure the suture lock to the suture by engaging the first lock piece with the second lock piece, and
• trim the suture.

A system for use with a suture, the system comprising:

• multiple suture locks, each suture lock comprising:
• a first lock piece, and
• a second lock piece;
• and
• a tool, comprising:
• at a proximal portion of the tool, a storage zone in which the multiple suture locks are disposed,
• a snare, operable to, for each of the multiple suture locks sequentially, thread the suture through the first lock piece and into a distal portion of the tool, and
• a multi-shaft system:
• extending from the proximal portion of the tool to the distal portion of the tool, and
• operable to, for each of the multiple suture locks, sequentially:
• advance the first lock piece and the second lock piece distally from the storage zone to the distal portion, and
• while the suture remains disposed through the first lock piece, secure the suture lock to the suture by engaging the first lock piece with the second lock piece, and
• a suture-exposing mechanism, operable to expose part of the suture laterally from the tool.