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.

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.

Disclosed herein is a catheter device (2) for implanting a leaflet anchor (10) and a papillary anchor (9) into the heart as part of a procedure for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) that extends between the leaflet anchor (10) and the papillary anchor (9), the catheter device (2) comprising: a two-part housing section extending from a distal end (8) of the catheter device (2) along the length of the catheter device (2) toward the proximal end (4) of the catheter device (2), the two-part housing section being arranged to be placed between the papillary muscle and a leaflet (12) of the heart during use of the catheter device (2), and the two-part housing section comprising a distal part (8) at the distal end of the catheter device (2) and a proximal part (4) located on the proximal side of the distal part (8); a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism at the proximal part (4) of the housing section for deploying a leaflet anchor (10) for attachment to the leaflet (12) of the heart; a papillary anchor deployment mechanism at the distal part (8) of the housing section for deployment of a papillary anchor (9) for attachment to the papillary muscle, wherein the papillary anchor deployment mechanism is arranged for deployment of the papillary anchor (9) by moving it outward in the distal direction relative to the distal part (4); and a flexible joint (34) located between the proximal part (4) and the distal part (8) of the two-part housing section, wherein the flexible joint (34) allows a centreline of the distal part (8) to be angled relative to a centreline of the proximal part (4).

Devices, systems, and method for adjusting and setting tension of an artificial chordae tendineae. The artificial chordae tendineae is coupleable between a leaflet clip and a tissue anchor. A locking assembly, through which the artificial chordae tendineae extends, is shiftable between a tension-adjusting configuration, in which the artificial chordae tendineae is movable to adjust tension on the leaflet, and a tension-setting or locked configuration, in which the artificial chordae tendineae is inhibited or prevented or locked against moving with respect to the locking assembly to set or fix tension on the leaflet.

A method of treating urinary incontinence in a patient includes providing a sling assembly comprising: a sling, an adjustable anchor, and a fixed anchor; making a vaginal incision in the patient; placing the fixed anchor and the adjustable anchor into obturator tissue of the patient; and adjusting the sling relative to a position under a urethra of the patient by sliding a first interconnecting member through the adjustable anchor.

A method of coupling a first portion of an anatomy to a second portion of the anatomy includes coupling first and second bones of the anatomy with a bone-tendon-bone implant. The bone-tendon-bone implant has a first bone end, a second bone end and a replacement tendon between the first and second bone ends. The first and second bone ends are positioned in corresponding first and second bores of the first and second bones. The first bone end is secured to the first bone with a first bone anchor. A second anchor coupled to the bone-tendon-bone implant is passed through and outside the second bore. The second anchor is coupled to an adjustable suture construct having two adjustable suture loops. Tensioning at least one of first and second ends of the adjustable suture construct tensions the replacement tendon and positions the first bone relative to the second bone.

A method and suture anchor for treatment of spinal stenosis. The method includes the steps of cutting off a muscle origin or insertion from a spinous process, cutting off the spinous process at the transition to the lamina arcus vertebrae, at least partial resection of the lamina arcus vertebrae and thereby decompression of the spinal cord within the foramen vertebral, performing osteosynthesis of the spinous process, and placing a suture anchor within the spinous process and reattaching the muscle origin or insertion to the spinous process. Further methods for spine stabilization are provided wherein suture anchors are used to implement a tension band wiring. Further methods for reduction of unwanted effects after spinal treatment are provided.

A method of coupling a first portion of an anatomy to a second portion of the anatomy includes coupling first and second bones of the anatomy with a bone-tendon-bone implant. The bone-tendon-bone implant has a first bone end, a second bone end and a replacement tendon between the first and second bone ends. The first and second bone ends are positioned in corresponding first and second bores of the first and second bones. The first bone end is secured to the first bone with a first bone anchor. A second anchor coupled to the bone-tendon-bone implant is passed through and outside the second bore. The second anchor is coupled to an adjustable suture construct having two adjustable suture loops. Tensioning at least one of first and second ends of the adjustable suture construct tensions the replacement tendon and positions the first bone relative to the second bone.

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).