Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating the tying of a knot in a flexible line that has a first portion extending through a tissue/organ and first and second free ends extending away from the first portion and wrapped around each other to thereby define a loop. The apparatus has a support to be held by a user of the apparatus, a first jaw, a second jaw, first structure cooperating between the first jaw and at least one of the support and second jaw for allowing the first jaw to be moved relative to the at least one of the support and second jaw between a) a first position wherein the first jaw and at least one of the second jaw and support cooperatively define a first annular wall bounding a space into which the flexible line can be directed along a first line and b) a second position wherein there is an entry opening defined through the first annular wall to permit entry therethrough of the flexible line into the space along a direction transverse to the first line, and second structure on at least one of the first jaw, the second jaw and support for defining a pushing surface for the flexible line in the space to allow the pushing surface to bear slidingly against the flexible line in the space to thereby cinch a knot formed in the flexible line.

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First Claim