Patent ID: 8764835

Claim:
A method of repairing or fortifying a void or defect in an anulus fibrosis, the method comprising: providing an intra-aperture component attached or coupled to one or more lengths of suture, the one or more lengths of suture having a resilient graspable portion; providing an instrument comprising: a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a footplate having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the footplate being mounted to the distal end of the shaft, and the distal end of the footplate being laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the distal end of the footplate releasably carrying the one or more lengths of suture so that the graspable portion of the one or more lengths of suture projects laterally out of the distal end of the footplate and across the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and a needle having a distal end, a proximal end and a suture capture element disposed adjacent to its distal end, the needle being telescopically mounted to the shaft for movement along the longitudinal axis of the shaft; advancing the footplate through an aperture in the anulus fibrosis, with the graspable portion of the one or more lengths of suture being temporarily deflected by a rim portion of the anulus fibrosis adjacent to the aperture, whereby to permit the footplate and the graspable portion of the one more lengths of suture to enter the aperture, and with the graspable portion of the one or more lengths of suture thereafter returning to a position projecting across the longitudinal axis of the shaft; passing the needle through the rim of the anulus fibrosis adjacent to the aperture and grasping the graspable portion of the one or more lengths of suture; and pulling the graspable portion of the one or more lengths of suture through the anulus fibrosis from the inside out to secure the intra-aperture component on or within the void or defect.