Patent ID: 8603118

Claim:
A method of implanting a prosthesis comprising: delivering a first end portion and a second end portion of a prosthesis on a distal portion of a tissue, wherein the distal portion is disposed farther from a surgeon than a proximal portion of the tissue; wherein delivering the first end portion and the second end portion comprises inserting a first delivery needle containing the first end portion through the proximal portion of the tissue and passing the first delivery needle through the tissue and to the distal portion of the tissue, and inserting a second delivery needle containing the second end portion through the proximal portion of the tissue and passing the second delivery needle through the tissue and to the distal portion of the tissue; delivering an intermediate portion of the prosthesis to the proximal portion of the tissue; and fastening the first end portion to the second end portion by moving the first delivery needle and the second delivery needle toward each other at the distal portion of the tissue such that a first delivery direction provided by the first delivery needle crosses a second delivery direction provided the second delivery needle and the first end portion crosses and connects with the second end portion, wherein in a pre-actuated condition a first needle end of the first delivery needle and a second needle end of the second delivery needle extend substantially equal distances in a distal direction, and wherein in moving the first delivery needle and the second delivery needle toward each other, the second needle end extends distally farther than the first needle end.