Patent ID: 8632590

Claim:
A method of repairing tissue in an intervertebral disc comprising: a. providing a delivery tool, said delivery tool comprising a handle portion and a distally extending elongate tubular insertion portion defining a lumen, the tubular insertion portion further comprising a longitudinally extending slot in communication with the lumen; b. providing two or more elongate anchor members axially aligned along an axis of the lumen and within the lumen, each elongate anchor member comprising a connector which extends through the slot, said connector defining an opening, and wherein at least one of the anchor members comprises a tether, said tether being detachably received within the handle portion of the delivery tool; c. providing at least one elongate flexible loop which extends through the openings of the connectors, each loop having a first dimension; d. providing a displacement rod, said displacement rod being at least partially within said lumen and proximal to the elongate anchor members, said displacement rod capable of being actuated by the handle portion of the delivery tool; e. penetrating the tissue in a first location on the intervertebral disc; f. displacing said displacement rod distally a first distance and delivering a first anchor of said two or more elongate anchor members; g. penetrating the tissue in a second location on the intervertebral disc; h. displacing said displacement rod distally a second distance so as to result in a displacement, said second distance more distal than the first distance, and said displacement between said first distance and second distance including at least partial rotation of the displacement rod along its axis; i. delivering a second anchor of said two or more elongate anchor members; j. releasing said tether to said at least one of the anchor members; k. removing the delivery tool; l. modifying the loop, said modifying step resulting in the loop having a second, smaller dimension; and m. locking the loop in said second, smaller dimension with a locking element.