Disclosed herein is an anchor system for implantation in body tissue to hold a line (18). The anchor system comprises an anchor (9), the anchor (9) comprising a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue and having a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied. The end of each of the hooks (62) comprises a tip (160′), wherein the tips (160′) are formed to curve towards a central axis of the anchor (9) when the anchor (9) is in the folded configuration.

An anchor (9) for implantation in body tissue (26) to hold a line (14) comprises a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue (26) and having a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied, and wherein the hooks (62) are formed with openings (64, 66) along their length, wherein the openings (64, 66) in the hooks (62) comprise slits extending along some or all of the length of the hooks (62).

An anchor (10) for implantation in body tissue (12) to hold a line (14) comprises: an elastic material formed to have an unfolded configuration for placement within the body tissue (12), and a folded configuration for use prior to deployment of the anchor (10) and arranged to permit placement of the anchor (10) into an anchor tube (38) prior to deployment. The anchor (10) is arranged to be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied. When the anchor (10) is in the unfolded configuration the anchor (10) has an elongate configuration comprising two anchor pins (82) extending in opposite directions with one either side of a centre (80) of the anchor (10), whilst when the anchor (10) is in the folded configuration the two pins (82) both extend in the same direction; and wherein ends (84) of the pins (82) are arranged to pierce the body tissue.

A suture backstop system for loading an all-suture backstop on a suspension system in a bone tunnel. The suture backstop system has a backstop with a first and second end both extending in a distal direction. The system includes a first passing longitudinal element woven through the backstop such that a first loop is created in the first passing longitudinal element and extends from the first end of the backstop. Similarly, the system also includes a second passing longitudinal element woven through the backstop such that a second loop is created in the second passing longitudinal element and extends from the second end of the backstop. The first and second passing longitudinal elements are attached to a distal end of a handle. The first and second ends of the backstop are positioned in a first direction in an undeployed configuration and positioned in a second direction, different from the first direction, in a deployed configuration.

A method is described for use with a heart of a subject, the heart having a valve and an atrium upstream of the valve. The method includes transluminally advancing multiple tissue anchors to the atrium; and securing an elongate contraction member at least partly around an annulus of the valve by anchoring the tissue anchors to the annulus, such that the tissue anchors are distributed along the elongate contraction member. The method further includes subsequently contracting the annulus by applying tension the elongate contraction member, such that a radiopaque indicator that is disposed within the heart and that is coupled to the contraction member undergoes a conformational change in response to the tension. The conformational change of the radiopaque indicator within the heart is observed, and the tension is adjusted responsively to the observed conformational change. Other embodiments are also described.

Guide tools for installation of fixation devices. At least one example embodiment includes: a delivery tube, the delivery tube defines a slot that runs from the distal end to the proximal end; a guide tube coupled to the delivery tube; and a handle coupled to the proximal end of the delivery tube and coupled to the proximal end of the guide tube. The handle may include a first channel into an interior of the delivery tube through the slot, and a receptacle in operational relationship to the delivery tube and the first channel.

Various exemplary systems and devices for knotless anchor insertion and methods of knotless anchor insertion are provided. In general, an inserter tool is configured for knotless anchor insertion in a soft tissue repair surgical procedure. The inserter tool is configured to insert an anchor into a bone of a patient to secure a soft tissue relative to the bone. A suture coupled to the soft tissue is secured relative to the bone by being trapped between an exterior surface of the anchor and a bone surface defining a hole in the bone in which the anchor is positioned.

Various exemplary systems and devices for knotless anchor insertion and methods of knotless anchor insertion are provided. In general, an inserter tool is configured for knotless anchor insertion in a soft tissue repair surgical procedure. The inserter tool is configured to insert an anchor into a bone of a patient to secure a soft tissue relative to the bone. A suture coupled to the soft tissue is secured relative to the bone by being trapped between an exterior surface of the anchor and a bone surface defining a hole in the bone in which the anchor is positioned.

A tissue repair assembly for attachment of tissue to bone or tissue to tissue having a soft anchoring implant 100 with a length of suture 120 there through for tensioning the implant and facilitating attachment of other tissue. The implant 100 is a soft, flexible, three-dimensional structure that has a resident volume 200. An inserter tube 310 facilitates the placement of the implant 100 into bone or adjacent soft tissue where it may be deployed. Upon deployment, the soft anchoring implant 100 shortens axially and expands radially, achieving a larger diameter than the hole through which it was placed, thus resisting pull out.

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.