Self locking suture lock

Abstract

A self locking suture lock having a first suture thread opening in which the thread is secured before the surgical stitch and a cone shaped second stitch lock opening that is larger at the front side than at the back side, and designed to receive suture thread in only one direction, thereby locking it against withdrawal after the stitch to complete and lock it without the need for a surgical knot. A tongue in the second opening will allow passage through the cone shaped second opening from front side to back side but not allow passage from back to side to front side or pulling out of second opening once threaded. The front side of the self locking suture may be distinctively colored so that a surgeon will know which side of the suture lock will accept the suture thread. The first opening may take the form of a deformable slot, a pair of openings, or other forms. The tongue may engage the edge of the second opening, a slot, or other unidirectional lock structures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.