Patent attributes
A suture retainer has an upper or cover section and a lower or base section which cooperate to define passages through which portions of a suture extend. Projections on the cover section of the retainer extend into recesses on the base section of the retainer. A center projection on the base section extends between the two projections on the cover section. The projections cooperate with surfaces on body sections of the cover and base section of the retainer to position and grip portions of the suture. The retainer may be moved along the portions of the suture while the retainer is gripped by an applicator assembly. The applicator assembly is operable to apply energy to the retainer to bond end portions of the projections on the cover section to bottoms of recesses in the base section of the retainer.
