Suture and retainer assembly and SULU

1. A suturing system for receiving and retaining a suture, comprising:

a suture;

at least one needle having a tapered end and a groove across the tapered end that receives and removably retains a portion of the suture; and

at least one retainer having a body defining an aperture, the shape of the aperture being defined by a top surface and a bottom surface, a central passageway extending between the top surface and the bottom surface and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central passageway, the central passageway being sized to allow passage of the needle therethrough, each slot defines a tortured path section between the top surface and the bottom surface, the suture conformable within the tortured path section such that passage of the suture is permitted in a first direction and inhibited in a second direction.

2. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture forms a cross-sectional Φ-shaped hole in the body defined by a substantially circular center and two opposed rectangles extending radially outward therefrom.

3. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein each retainer is constructed of a biocompatible material that is absorbable.

4. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein the tortured path section is defined by at least one protrusion extending from a sidewall of the slot.

5. The suturing system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one protrusion has a distal surface, a proximal surface, and an apex, the distal surface having an area larger than an area of the proximal surface.

6. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein the tortured path section is defined by two protrusions, each protrusion having an apex, the apices being located adjacent each other.

7. The suturing system of claim 6 , wherein the adjacent apices are in immediate proximity.

8. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein the tortured path section is defined by two protrusions, each protrusion having an apex, the apices being offset from each other.

9. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein each retainer has an outer perimeter in a shape selected from the group consisting of an oval, a circle, a triangular, and a rectangular.

10. The suturing system of claim 1 , wherein the central passageway has a substantially conical shape.

11. The surgical fastener of claim 1 , wherein the suture has a series of tapered sections configured to aid in the retention of the suture within the tortured path section of the suture retainer.

12. A suture retainer cartridge for use with a surgical stapling-type of device, comprising:

a cartridge body;

a needle; and

at least one suture retainer configured to be removably secured within the cartridge body, the at least one suture retainer having a body defining an aperture, the shape of the aperture being defined by a top surface and a bottom surface, a central passageway extending between the top surface and the bottom surface and having a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central passageway, the central passageway being sized to allow passage of the needle therethrough, each slot defines a tortured path section between the top surface and the bottom surface, a suture conformable within the tortured path section such that passage of the suture is permitted in a first direction and inhibited in a second direction.

13. The suture retainer cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the suture retainer is constructed of a biocompatible material that is absorbable.

14. The suture retainer cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge body is configured to removably secure a plurality of suture retainers therein.