Method and apparatus for supporting a u-shaped portion of an elongate flexible element relative to a human body tissue

In combination:

• an elongate flexible element that can be directed into a human body tissue and configured to define a U-shaped portion projecting from the human body tissue, with a base and first and second legs projecting in spaced relationship away from the base with the legs each having a length extendable into the human body tissue;
• and
• an apparatus comprising a body with a tissue abutting side and an opposite side, the body having first and second channels and an anchoring part with a bearing surface between the first and second channels, the first and second channels respectively having first and second entry openings;
• the body configured so that the body and elongate flexible element can be relatively moved from a starting relationship so as to cause:
• a) a midlength part of the first leg to move through the first entry opening into the first channel;
• b) a midlength part of the second leg to move through the second entry opening into the second channel;
• and
• c) the base of the U-shaped portion to overlie the bearing surface, whereupon the U-shaped portion and body are in a preliminary operative relationship,
• wherein the body is configured so that with the U-shaped portion and body in the preliminary operative relationship the body blocks movement of both the first leg out of the first channel and the second leg out of the second channel by movement of the first and second legs away from each other in a single plane,
• whereby with the U-shaped portion and body in the preliminary operative relationship the elongate flexible element can be moved to cause the U-shaped portion and body to be changed into a final operative relationship wherein the base of the U-shaped portion is moved against the bearing surface.

In combination:

• an elongate flexible element that can be directed into a human body tissue and configured to define a U-shaped portion projecting from the human body tissue, with a base and first and second legs projecting in spaced relationship away from the base with the legs each having a length extendable into the human body tissue;
• and
• an apparatus comprising a body with a tissue abutting surface and comprising an anchoring part and a first channel that extends along a portion of the body up to the anchoring part,
• the apparatus configured so that with the body in a first state, the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element and body can be relatively moved from a starting relationship into an operative relationship wherein the first and second legs straddle the anchoring part and the base can be drawn against the anchoring part to urge the first surface of the body towards the part of the human body, as an incident of which at least a part of the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element is caused to move through the first entry opening into the first channel and within the first channel up to the anchoring part,
• the body having a part that is movable towards another part of the body to thereby place the body in a second state wherein at least one of:
• i) a size;
• and ii) a shape of the first entry opening and/or first channel is changed so as to thereby interfere with movement of the at least part of the U-shaped portion away from the anchoring part within the first channel to and through the first entry opening.

A method of engaging a U-shaped portion of an elongate flexible element with an apparatus to allow the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element to act against and thereby maintain a body on the apparatus against part of a human body, the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element having a base and first and second legs, with respective first and second lengths, extending in spaced relationship away from the base, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the apparatus, the body of the apparatus:
• a) having a tissue abutting side and an opposite side;
• and b) capable of being changed between first and second states,
• the body comprising an anchoring part and a first channel that extends along a portion of the body up to the anchoring part and has a first entry opening;
• with the body in the first state, relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element and body from a starting relationship into an operative relationship wherein the first and second legs straddle the anchoring part and the base can be drawn against the anchoring part to urge the tissue abutting side of the body towards the part of the human body,
• wherein the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element and body comprises causing the first leg of the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element to move through the first entry opening into the first channel and within the first channel up to the anchoring part;
• and
• with the body in the first state and the body and the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element in the operative relationship, changing the body into the second state wherein at least one of:
• i) a size;
• and ii) a shape of the first entry opening and/or first channel is changed so as to thereby interfere with movement of the at least part of the U-shaped portion away from the anchoring part within the first channel to and through the first entry opening,
• wherein the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the flexible element and body comprises causing the first leg to move through the first entry opening into the first channel and within the first channel up to the anchoring part,
• wherein the body comprises a second channel that extends along a portion of the body up to the anchoring part and the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the flexible element and body comprises causing the second leg to move within the second channel up to the anchoring part,
• wherein the step of changing the body into the second state comprises moving a first cantilevered part on the body so that the first cantilevered part:
• a) blocks the first leg of the U-shaped portion from moving from the first channel to and through the first entry opening;
• and b) blocks the second leg of the U-shaped portion from moving transversely to a length of the second leg of the U-shaped portion out of the second channel so as to be separated from the body of the apparatus.

A method of engaging a U-shaped portion of an elongate flexible element with an apparatus to allow the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element to act against and thereby maintain a body on the apparatus against part of a human body, the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element having a base and first and second legs, with respective first and second lengths, extending in spaced relationship away from the base, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the apparatus, the body of the apparatus:
• a) having a tissue abutting side and an opposite side;
• and b) capable of being changed between first and second states,
• the body comprising an anchoring part and a first channel that extends along a portion of the body up to the anchoring part and has a first entry opening;
• with the body in the first state, relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element and body from a starting relationship into an operative relationship wherein the first and second legs straddle the anchoring part and the base can be drawn against the anchoring part to urge the tissue abutting side of the body towards the part of the human body,
• wherein the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element and body comprises causing at least a part of the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element to move through the first entry opening into the first channel and within the first channel up to the anchoring part;
• and
• with the body in the first state and the body and the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element in the operative relationship, changing the body into the second state wherein at least one of:
• i) a size;
• and ii) a shape of the first entry opening and/or first channel is changed so as to thereby interfere with movement of the at least part of the U-shaped portion away from the anchoring part within the first channel to and through the first entry opening,
• wherein the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the elongate flexible element and body comprises causing the first leg to move through the first entry opening into the first channel and within the first channel up to the anchoring part,
• wherein the body comprises a second channel that extends along a portion of the body up to the anchoring part and the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the flexible element and body comprises causing the second leg to move within the second channel up to the anchoring part,
• wherein the body comprises a second entry opening spaced from the first entry opening and the step of relatively moving the U-shaped portion of the flexible element and body comprises causing the second leg to move through the second entry opening,
• wherein the anchoring portion has a length and the body has first and second cantilevered portions projecting oppositely to each other and each projecting in a line that is at an angle to the length of the body, up to a free end,
• and the step of changing the state of the body comprises crimping the body so that:
• a) one portion of the body is moved closer to the free end of the first cantilevered portion to reduce a dimension of the first entry opening to thereby interfere with movement of the first leg in the first channel through the first entry opening;
• and b) a second portion of the body is moved closer to the free end of the second cantilevered portion to reduce a dimension of the second entry opening to thereby interfere with movement of the second leg in the second channel through the second entry opening.