Patent ID: 8460319

Claim:
A device for at least partially closing an aperture in an annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc of a patient, the device comprising: an implant delivery tool including a substantially rigid outer tube having a proximal section and a sharpened distal tip; a body coupled to the proximal section of the outer tube; a plunger assembly movable axially relative to the body and including a plunger member and a pusher tube coupled thereto and disposed within the outer tube; and an implant releasably coupled to the implant delivery tool including: first and second tissue anchors serially disposed within the distal section of the outer tube; and a flexible connecting element coupling the first and second tissue anchors, the connecting element at least partially formed from a braided tubular suture material and including: a distal segment of the braided suture material attached to the first tissue anchor; an intermediate segment of the braided suture material extending proximally from the distal segment and including a locking element and an adjustable loop, wherein a portion of the intermediate segment extends internally within the braided suture material of the locking element, and wherein the second tissue anchor is slidably coupled to the braided suture material of the adjustable loop; and a proximal segment of the braided suture material extending proximally from the intermediate segment and releasably coupled to the implant delivery tool.