A tissue fixation apparatus can include a flexible construct and an elongated locking member. The flexible construct can include at least two adjustable loops and tensioning members. The two adjustable loops can be configured to pass through the first tissue, and to be spaced apart along an outer surface of the first tissue in a first direction. The tensioning members can extend from the two adjustable loops, and can be configured to reduce the two adjustable loops from a first size to a second size. The flexible construct can be attached to the second tissue by an anchor. The locking member can be configured to be received within the two adjustable loops at the first size, and to engage the two adjustable loops at the second size.

A repair system including at least one anchor, screw, or plate with a body and a suture capture element formed in the body for attaching at least one suture to the anchor, screw, or plate. The suture capture element being configured so as to permit the suture to be snared by the suture-capture element after the anchor, screw, or plate has been attached to bone.

Bone anchors and related systems and elements, such as means for engaging a ligament to a bone anchor for correction of spinal deformities. In some embodiments, the bone anchor may be configured for engaging vertebral bone and may comprise an exterior thread form and an interior thread form, which may be positioned within an interior chamber of the bone anchor that may open at the distal end of the bone anchor where an outer thread form may also terminate. The inner chamber may taper in an opposite direction relative to an outer surface of the bone anchor upon which the outer thread form is positioned.

The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material.

Exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for delivering a prosthesis to a target location in a luminal system of a patient. At least one tether is secured proximate the target location to serve as a rail, and a prosthesis is advanced along the rail to the target location and secured in place. Exemplary methods and systems provide for repair of the mitral and tricuspid valves, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysms, stomach valves, fallopian tubes and the pulmonary system, among others. Also disclosed are various prostheses suitable for use with the disclosed methods and systems.

Apparatuses for attaching tissue to bone are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes an expandable body defining a bore, an expander pin having a shaft sized to be received in the bore of the expandable body, and an insertion shaft slidingly disposed in the bore of the expandable body and in a bore of the expander pin. The body is configured to expand laterally into and attach to bone when the expander pin is driven into the expandable body. The body includes a proximal main member having a distally extending threaded projection and a harder, distal tip member having a threaded recess in a proximal surface thereof such that the projection is threadedly interengageable with the recess. The expansion of the body by way of the pin can occur when the proximal main member and distal tip member are threadedly engaged. The insertion shaft is releasably secured to the expandable body and extends distally beyond the expandable body.

Methods and devices are provided for securing tissue to bone. A surgical system can include a guide, a suture anchor including a sheath and a screw, a first driver shaft, and a second driver shaft. The first driver shaft can be configured to be removably received within a lumen of the guide such that an awl tip thereof extends beyond a distal end of the sheath. The sheath and the guide can have first and second side openings, respectively, that can receive at least one suture therethrough. The second driver shaft can be configured to be removably received within the lumen of the guide when the first elongate shaft is removed therefrom, the second driver shaft having a distal driver member configured to be removably received within a proximal channel formed in the screw to drive the screw into mating engagement with the sheath.

A flexible suture for coupling tissue includes a first suture portion extending to a first end and a second suture portion extending to a second end. A plurality of braided strands form the first and second suture portions. An identifier characteristic is formed into the plurality of braided strands. The identifier characteristic extends from the first end of the first suture portion to the second end of the second suture portion, and the identifier characteristic distinguishes the first suture portion from the second suture portion.

A lateral pharyngeal wall tractor comprises a bone fixer, a traction mechanism and a lateral pharyngeal wall fixer. The lateral pharyngeal wall fixer is fixed on an M. palatopharyngeus or other submucous tissues of a lateral pharyngeal wall. With the bone fixer fixed on a processus alveolaris or a hamulus pterygoideus or a processus pterygoideus as a supporting point, one end of the traction mechanism is connected to the bone fixer, the other end is connected to the lateral pharyngeal wall fixer, and as a result, the submucous tissue of the lateral pharyngeal wall is pulled outward. The elastic traction force produced by the traction mechanism is greater than the collapse force of the lateral pharyngeal wall which is produced by negative pressure during inspiration, but is less than the contraction force which is produced by the muscle of the lateral pharyngeal wall during deglutition.

An implanted tongue septum fascia retraction device includes a fascia fixer, a pull line and a mandible fixer. The fascia fixer is fixed to a tongue septum fascia by means of a fixing clamp, a fixing hook or a fixing ring, and the mandible fixer is fixed to a mandible. One end of the pull line is connected to the fascia fixer, and the other end of the pull line is fixed to the mandible fixer. By adjusting the tightness of a pull line, a tongue septum fascia may be retracted forwards, thus pulling a falling tongue base forwards, opening an obstructed upper airway, and fulfilling the aim of treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA) caused by glossoptosis.