Method and apparatus for closing fissures in the annulus fibrosus

摘要

A method for closing a fissure in a region of tissue having an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising:providing at least a pair of transverse anchor components, each transverse anchor component being coupled to at least one flexible longitudinal fixation component having a longitudinal axis;placing the transverse anchor components relative to the inner surface of the tissue on both sides of the fissure such that an exposed end of a flexible longitudinal fixation component extends through the tissue and past the outer surface of the tissue on both sides of the fissure;applying axial tension to the exposed ends; andanchoring the exposed ends.