Apparatus and methods for loading a closing device

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for loading a closing device onto a delivery device at the point of use and for using the apparatus for treating the intervertebral disc. The apparatus includes a cartridge for loading a closing device onto a delivery device at the point of use, the cartridge comprising a tab holding feature for holding one or more tabs of the closing device and a tab loading feature for loading tabs onto the delivery device. A method of treating an intervertebral disc includes the steps of loading a closing device into a delivery device at the point of use, the closing device comprising at least two tabs coupled to a connecting element, and substantially approximating a defect in the intervertebral disc using the closing device delivered by the delivery device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.