Soft suture staple system with tethered anchoring mechanism

A method of securing a tissue anchor, comprising:

• advancing a first delivery cannula and a second delivery cannula located adjacent to the first delivery cannula directly into a tissue region such that a first channel and a second channel are formed respectively within the tissue region;
• retracting the first delivery cannula and the second delivery cannula from the first channel and the second channel such that a first tip is detached from the first delivery cannula and remains within the first channel and a second tip is detached from the second delivery cannula and remains within the second channel;
• deploying a first leg portion from the first cannula and a second leg portion from the second cannula such that the first leg portion and second leg portion remain connected to one another via a body portion of a flexible staple, wherein the first leg portion is folded proximally upon itself within the first channel and the second leg portion is folded proximally upon itself within the second channel;
• and
• applying a force to a tensioning suture passing through the body portion, the first leg, and the second leg such that the first leg portion and the second leg portion are each urged to reconfigure into a collapsed, anchoring configuration within the respective first and second channels.

A tissue anchor assembly, comprising:

• a first tip and a second tip each configured to pierce a tissue region;
• a flexible staple having a body portion and a first leg portion at a first end of the body portion and a second leg portion at a second end of the body portion, wherein each of the first and second leg portions is configured to fold proximally upon itself;
• a first tether coupling the first tip to the first leg and a second tether coupling the second tip to the second leg;
• and
• a tensioning suture passing through a lumen defined by the flexible staple such that the suture passes through the first and second leg portions of the flexible staple and extends back into the lumen such that application of a tensioning force upon the tensioning suture urges the first leg and second leg to each reconfigure into a collapsed, anchoring configuration.

A tissue anchor assembly, comprising:

• an insertion device having a first delivery cannula and a second delivery cannula adjacent to the first delivery cannula such that the first and second delivery cannulas project distally while defining a notch or opening along each delivery cannula;
• a first tip removably positioned within a first terminal opening of the first delivery cannula and a second tip removably positioned within a second terminal opening of the second delivery cannula, wherein each of the first and second tips is configured to pierce a tissue region;
• a flexible staple having a body portion and a first leg portion at a first end of the body portion and a second leg portion at a second end of the body portion;
• and
• a tensioning suture passing through a lumen defined by the flexible staple such that the suture passes through the first and second leg portions of the flexible staple and extends back into the lumen such that application of a tensioning force upon a proximal portion of the tensioning suture urges the first leg and second leg to each reconfigure into a self-locking collapsed, intussuscepted configuration.

A method of securing a tissue anchor, comprising:

• advancing a first delivery cannula and a second delivery cannula located adjacent to the first delivery cannula directly into a tissue region such that a first channel and a second channel are formed respectively within the tissue region;
• retracting the first delivery cannula and the second delivery cannula from the first channel and the second channel such that a first tip is detached from the first delivery cannula and remains within the first channel and a second tip is detached from the second delivery cannula and remains within the second channel;
• deploying a first leg portion from the first cannula and a second leg portion from the second cannula such that the first leg portion and second leg portion remain connected to one another via a body portion of a flexible staple;
• and
• applying a force to a tensioning suture passing through the body portion, the first leg, and the second leg such that the first leg portion and the second leg portion are each urged to reconfigure into a collapsed, intussuscepted configuration within the respective first and second channels.

A tissue anchor assembly, comprising:

• an insertion device having a delivery cannula which projects distally;
• a tip removably positioned within a terminal opening of the delivery cannula, wherein the tip is configured to pierce a tissue region;
• a flexible anchor having a leg portion wherein the leg portion is configured to fold upon itself within the delivery cannula;
• a tether coupling the tip to the flexible anchor;
• and
• a tensioning suture passing through a lumen defined by the flexible anchor such that the suture passes through the flexible anchor to form a cross-over pattern whereby ends of the suture extend through terminal openings of the flexible anchor in opposing directions such that application of a tensioning force upon the tensioning suture urges the flexible anchor to reconfigure into a collapsed, anchoring configuration.