Abstract: Apparatus for the affixing of prosthetic, mechanical devices to body tissue. Often referred to as a “surgical attachment ring.” At least a portion of the outside edge of said ring is substantially of a non-convex profile. The application may also characterised by the feature of pre-attached or pre-loaded sutures or by the presence of one or more suture—receiving passageways in the body of the ring.

Abstract: A device to facilitate post-operative sternal closure by twisting the opposite end regions of the suture wire together comprises spaced guides in the form of limbs (1 and 2) with passageways (3 and 4) through which the proximal wire ends (12) and (13) may be fed and a cross-piece (7) transversely positioned with respect to said guides whereby, in use, the wire end regions may be bent across and supported by the cross-piece. The cross-piece includes a discontinuity (8) with a spacing adapted to be less than the thickness of wire. As the tension in the wire increases during the course of the twisting motion a point will be reached when the wire end regions forcefully deform the cross-piece (7) enabling the wires to pass through the discontinuity. Thus an indication is given when a maximum tension is reached.