Suture retention device

A surgical device, comprising:

• a surgical retractor having first and second oppositely disposed retractor portions operatively coupled by connecting structure and defining a space therebetween through which a surgical site is accessed;
• at least one of said retractor portions including a suture guide channel configured to receive a segment of a surgical suture;
• and
• a suture retention device capable of retaining the surgical suture relative to said surgical retractor during a surgical intervention, said suture retention device operatively coupled to said surgical retractor and comprising:
• a first member having a first suture contact surface;
• and
• a second member having a second suture contact surface, said second member being rotatable relative to said first member;
• said first member and second member configured and sized to create a retention slot therebetween for receiving a portion of the surgical suture;
• wherein said retention slot is substantially in registration and communication with said platform suture guide channel.

A surgical device, comprising:

• a surgical retractor having first and second oppositely disposed retractor portions operatively coupled by connecting structure and defining a space therebetween through which a surgical site is accessed, said surgical retractor including an instrument-mounting rail configured for mounting a surgical instrument for use during the surgical intervention, said instrument-mounting rail including a suture guide channel formed therein for receiving a segment of a surgical suture;
• and
• a suture retention device for retaining the surgical suture relative to said surgical retractor during a surgical intervention, said suture retention device operatively coupled to said surgical retractor and comprising:
• a first member, said first member having a first suture contact surface;
• and
• a second member, said second member having a second suture contact surface, said second member being rotatable relative to said first member;
• said first member and said second member configured and sized to create a retention slot therebetween for receiving a portion of the surgical suture;
• wherein said retention slot in said suture retention device is in communication with said suture guide channel so as to allow insertion of the suture segment into said suture guide channel and into said retention slot without interfering with the operation of said instrument-mounting rail.

A surgical device, comprising:

• a surgical retractor including first and second oppositely disposed retractor portions operatively coupled by connecting structure and defining a space therebetween through which a surgical site is accessed;
• retention device support structure on said surgical retractor;
• a first member operatively coupled to said retention device support structure and having a first suture contact surface;
• a second member operatively coupled to said retention device support structure and having a second suture contact surface, said second member being rotatable relative to said first member and cooperating with said first member to define a retention slot therebetween for receiving a portion of a surgical suture;
• and
• a suture guide channel disposed between said retention slot and said space between said first and second retractor portions, whereby said suture guide channel is adapted to direct the suture from the surgical site to said retention slot between said first and second members.