System for supporting and cutting suture thread to create tissue retainers thereon

An apparatus for creating tissue-grasping elements on a suture having a longitudinal axis comprising:

• an anvil adapted to support the suture during cutting;
• a channel in the anvil, the channel adapted to be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the suture, the channel adapted and configured to receive a non-exposed segment of suture while stabilizing an exposed segment of suture;
• a cutting device positioned on an opposite side of the suture from the anvil and adapted to cut into the exposed segment of the suture to create a plurality of tissue-grasping elements spaced along the longitudinal axis of the suture.

An apparatus for creating tissue-retainers protruding from a surface of a suture having a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:

• a cutting bed;
• a channel in the cutting bed, the channel having a width, depth and length configured to receive a non-exposed longitudinal segment of a suture while stabilizing an exposed longitudinal segment of suture;
• a cutting device configured to make a cut in the surface of the longitudinally exposed segment of suture, thereby creating a tissue-retainer having an apex protruding above the surface of the suture and a base attached to the suture.