A system includes a first tube, a sharp coil at a distal end of the first tube, a second tube displaceable within the first tube, and a sharp housing at a distal of the second tube for storing fasteners. The housing can be positioned at a first tissue, and the coil rotated to advance the coil into engagement with the first tissue. The first tube is retracted to retract the first tissue, and then a first fastener is deployed at the first tissue location. Then, without removing the system from the patient, the distal end of the system is moved adjacent a second tissue location, and the process is repeated for a second fastener at the second tissue location. A suture extends between the first and second fasteners, and tension is applied to the suture to draw the first and second tissues toward each other to reconfigure the tissue.

Embodiments described herein include devices, systems, and methods for reducing the distance between two locations in tissue. In one embodiment, an anchor may reside within the right ventricle in engagement with the septum. A tension member may extend from that anchor through the septum and an exterior wall of the left ventricle to a second anchor disposed along a surface of the heart. Perforating the exterior wall and the septum from an epicardial approach can provide control over the reshaping of the ventricular chamber. Guiding deployment of the implant from along the epicardial access path and another access path into and through the right ventricle provides control over the movement of the anchor within the ventricle. The joined epicardial pathway and right atrial pathway allows the tension member to be advanced into the heart through the right atrium and pulled into engagement along the epicardial access path.

A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the tongue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the tongue and may be secured to other surrounding structures such as the mandible and/or hyoid bone. In general, the implant is manipulated to displace at least a portion of the posterior tongue in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the tongue. Methods and devices for adjusting a glossopexy system are also disclosed. Adjusting a distance between two body-engaging structures can be performed without disengaging a tether from either of the body-engaging structures in some embodiments.

A method for coupling tissue includes aligning a guide tool on an outer surface of a first tissue; forming a bore in the first tissue aligned with the guide tool; deploying a non-slip suture construct through the guide tool and into the bore; adjusting a saddle along a flexible member to a position adjacent to a soft anchor, wherein the saddle prevents the flexible member from slideably moving relative to the soft anchor; and threading the flexible member through a second tissue to secure the second tissue to the first tissue.

An apparatus includes a flexible fixation member having a body with a longitudinal extent and a width, the body defining a plurality of openings through the body, each of the plurality of openings formed substantially cross wise through the width of the body, and a suture having two terminal ends, the suture being interwoven through each of the plurality of openings in the body of the fixation member such that multiple portions of the fixation member are slidably coupled to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site.

A device for fixating a suture anchor beyond a hard tissue opening with the aid of a material having thermoplastic properties and energy transmitted to the suture anchor for in situ liquefaction of at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties. The device includes a tool and a suture anchor. The tool has a proximal end suitable for being coupled to an energy source and a distal end suitable for arrangement of the suture anchor including the suture. The distal end includes a distal tool face and an axial channel with a distal mouth located in the distal tool face. The suture anchor has an anchor foot and a thermoplastic sleeve including the material having thermoplastic properties. The anchor foot holds a loop of a suture such that end sections of the suture reach through the thermoplastic sleeve and a portion of the distal tool face.

A perforated sheath is anchored in a tissue opening with the aid of a tool, wherein the anchorage is achieved with the aid of mechanical vibration and a material which is liquefiable by the vibration. The tool includes a vibrating element and a counter element. Distal portions of both elements are introduced into the sheath to be in contact with each other at an interface. The vibrating element is connected to a vibration source and the vibrating element and the counter element are held against each other for effecting liquefaction of the liquefiable material at the interface. Under the effect of the force applied to the vibrating and counter element for holding them against each other, the liquefied material flows from the interface through the sheath perforation and penetrates the tissue.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a surgical soft tissue repair device includes a snare assembly coupled to a soft anchor in which the soft anchor has a first, unstressed configuration that can be used to insert the anchor into bone and a second, anchoring configuration that can be used to fixate the anchor in the bone. The snare assembly can be configured to actuate the anchor from the first configuration to the second configuration, and it can also be used to engage and approximate tissue by drawing the tissue closer to the anchor fixated in the bone. The snare assembly can be used in conjunction with a number of different anchor configurations, and other exemplary systems, devices, and methods for use with soft tissue repair are also provided.

An assembly includes a flexible fixation member, a suture, and a delivery device. The fixation member includes a body with two terminal ends. A suture passes through the flexible fixation member at various points along a length of the body such that portions of the fixation member are slidable relative to the suture and configurable to form a cluster within a surgical site. The delivery device includes a tubular member, an elongated inserter, and a trigger. The elongated inserter is slidably disposed within the tubular member. The inserter has a forked distal end configured to receive a portion of the flexible fixation member and the suture. The trigger is finger-engagable and fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the inserter. It is configured to advance and retract the inserter relative to the tubular member. The trigger includes a retention member for retaining a proximal end portion of the suture.