Multiple anchor delivery tool

A method comprising:

• providing a plurality of tissue anchors;
• providing an anchor deployment tool, which includes (i) a flexible outer tube, which has a distal tube end, and which defines (a) an anchor storage area in which the plurality of tissue anchors are stored before deployment thereof, and (b) a flexible distal anchor manipulation area between the anchor storage area and the distal tube end, the anchor manipulation area having a length of at least 3 cm, and (ii) a rotating deployment element, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube;
• withdrawing the rotating deployment element in a proximal direction within the outer tube, such that the rotating deployment element passes through one or more of the anchors without engaging the anchors;
• and
• using the rotating deployment element, (a) directly engaging the anchors in the anchor storage area, a single one at a time, when the rotating deployment element is advanced in the distal direction against the one of the anchors, (b) advancing each of the anchors, while thus directly engaged, in a distal direction, such that only the single anchor being advanced at the time by the rotating deployment element is within the distal anchor manipulation area, and (c) deploying each of the anchors through the distal tube end and into tissue of a subject by screwing the anchor into the tissue.

Apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of tissue anchors;
• and
• an anchor deployment tool, which (a) defines an anchor storage area in which the plurality of tissue anchors are stored before deployment thereof, and (b) comprises:
• a flexible outer tube, which has a distal tube end;
• and
• a rotating deployment element, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube, and which is configured to:
• pass through one or more of the anchors without engaging the anchors when the rotating deployment element is withdrawn in a proximal direction within the outer tube,
• directly engage the anchors in the anchor storage area, a single one at a time, when the rotating deployment element is advanced in the distal direction against the one of the anchors,
• advance each of the anchors, while thus directly engaged, in a distal direction, and
• deploy each of the anchors through the distal tube end and into tissue of a subject by rotating only the anchor directly engaged by the rotating deployment element, without rotating the anchors stored in the anchor storage area.

Apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of tissue anchors, which are shaped so as to define respective channels along entire longitudinal lengths of the anchors;
• and
• an anchor deployment tool, which (a) defines an anchor storage area and (b) comprises:
• a flexible outer tube, which has a distal tube end;
• a flexible inner shaft, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube;
• and
• a rotating deployment element, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube and is coupled to a distal shaft end of the flexible inner shaft, and which is configured to:
• directly engage the anchors in the anchor storage area, a single one at a time,
• advance each of the anchors, while thus directly engaged, in a distal direction, and
• deploy each of the anchors through the distal tube end and into tissue of a subject by screwing the anchor into the tissue,
• wherein the plurality of tissue anchors are stored in the anchor storage area before deployment thereof, such that the flexible inner shaft passes through the channels of the stored anchors without engaging the stored anchors, and the stored anchors are within the flexible outer tube.

A method comprising:

• providing a plurality of tissue anchors;
• providing an anchor deployment tool, which (a) defines an anchor storage area in which the plurality of tissue anchors are stored before deployment thereof, and (b) includes (i) a flexible outer tube, which has a distal tube end, and (ii) a rotating deployment element, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube;
• withdrawing the rotating deployment element in a proximal direction within the outer tube, such that the rotating deployment element passes through one or more of the anchors without engaging the anchors;
• and
• using the rotating deployment element, (a) directly engaging the anchors in the anchor storage area, a single one at a time, when the rotating deployment element is advanced in the distal direction against the one of the anchors, (b) advancing each of the anchors, while thus directly engaged, in a distal direction, and (c) deploying each of the anchors through the distal tube end and into tissue of a subject by rotating only the anchor directly engaged by the rotating deployment element, without rotating the anchors stored in the anchor storage area.

A method comprising:

• providing a plurality of tissue anchors, which are shaped so as to define respective channels along entire longitudinal lengths of the anchors;
• providing an anchor deployment tool, which (a) defines an anchor storage area and (b) includes (i) a flexible outer tube, which has a distal tube end, (ii) a flexible inner shaft, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube, and (iii) a rotating deployment element, which is positioned within the flexible outer tube and is coupled to a distal shaft end of the flexible inner shaft;
• and
• using the rotating deployment element, (a) directly engaging the anchors in the anchor storage area, a single one at a time, (b) advancing each of the anchors, while thus directly engaged, in a distal direction, and (c) deploying each of the anchors through the distal tube end and into tissue of a subject by screwing the anchor into the tissue,
• wherein the plurality of tissue anchors are stored in the anchor storage area before deployment thereof, such that the flexible inner shaft passes through the channels of the stored anchors without engaging the stored anchors, and the stored anchors are within the flexible outer tube.