METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A FISSURE IN THE ANNULUS OF AN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC, AND/OR FOR EFFECTING OTHER ANATOMICAL REPAIRS AND/OR FIXATIONS

摘要

A method for anchoring a sensory nerve stimulator (SNS) lead to the anatomy of a patient, the method comprising: providing an anchor assembly comprising: a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, a bore extending through the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, a flexible finger extending distally within the body, the flexible finger being formed by a recess formed on one side of the body and a U-shaped slot formed on the opposing side of the body, wherein the distal end of the finger is spaced from an opposing portion of the body; and a suture having a first end and a second end, the suture extending through the bore of the body, forming a loop adjacent to the body, back through the bore of the body, passing through the recess and extending out of the U-shaped slot; forming an opening through the dermis and the superficial fascia; positioning the body of the anchor anterior to the thorocolumbar fascia; positioning the SNS lead through the loop in the anchor assembly; positioning the SNS lead on the fat layer disposed anterior to the superficial fascia; and pulling a portion of the suture so as to cause the body of the anchor to engage the anterior surface of the thorocolumbar fascia and to cause the SNS lead to move anteriorly through the fat layer and toward the thorocolumbar fascia until the SNS lead reaches a desired depth in the fat layer.