in the form of a ball or sphere 28 best shown in fig7 and 8 for retaining the strap within the locking head preferably the ball head and strap are formed of stainless steel to give the suture band high strength and excellent resistance to corrosion the ball 28 preferably has a roughened surface to ensure that it wedges securely the suture band of the present invention is formed by assembling a partial locking head 24 u2032 shown in fig2 4 and the strap 26 and a hooked portion 30 formed integral with the strap as shown in fig5 and 6 after assembly the hooked portion is a component on the completed locking head 24 referring to fig2 4 partial locking head 24 u2032 comprises a roof 32 a ceiling 34 and a bottom wall 36 with the ceiling and bottom wall joined by a pair of sidewalls 38 hooked portion 30 includes a distal end 40 having a resilient latching finger 42 for reception in a window 44 formed in bottom wall 36 thus finger 42 and window 44 constitute latching means for holding the head and hooked portion together hooked portion 30 also comprises a floor 46 of the assembled locking head 24 with floor 46 and distal end 40 extending generally parallel to one another joined by a bight 48 and spaced sufficiently to receive the bottom wall 36 therebetween strap 26 is shown unattached to a needle however the attachment point 27 is suitable for attachment of a needle this may be done by splitting a needle and attaching it to the strap at at least two points a needle has two ends a blunt end and a sharp end to.