Patent ID: 7776096

Claim:
A method for treating an aperture in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc comprising: providing a repair system comprising: at least one first elongate member having a first major axis and a receptacle; at least one second flexible elongate member having a second major axis, wherein said at least one second flexible elongate member is connectively received within said receptacle of said at least first elongate member; and at least one bone anchor; and introducing the at least one bone anchor into a vertebral body adjacent to the annulus fibrosus; introducing the at least one first elongate member at least partially into intervertebral disc tissue surrounding the aperture; introducing the at least one second flexible elongate member through at least a portion of the annulus fibrosus, including introducing portions of the at least one second flexible elongate member into or through the annulus fibrosus at locations on opposite sides of the aperture; operatively coupling the at least one second flexible elongate member to the at least one bone anchor; and applying tension to the at least one second flexible elongate member against the at least one bone anchor so as to reapproximate the aperture by pulling together, wholly or partially, the annular tissue surrounding the aperture.