Patent ID: 7914512

Claim:
A method for implanting an article within solid tissue, said method comprising: providing a radially expandable sleeve defining a lumen; providing a cannula defining a lumen extending therethrough; percutaneously inserting the sleeve through a surface of the tissue such that a distal-most end of the sleeve lies adjacent a target site within intramuscular tissue; introducing the cannula into the tissue through the lumen of the sleeve; advancing the cannula distally through the lumen of the sleeve until a distal-most end of the cannula reaches the target site and extends beyond the distal-most end of the sleeve, whereupon distal advancement of the cannula through the lumen of the sleeve effectuates radial expansion of the sleeve; withdrawing the cannula proximally relative to the sleeve to thereby create a cavity in the tissue at the target site that is sized to receive the article; and advancing the article through the lumen of the cannula and into the cavity in the tissue at the target site.