Tissue anchoring system and method

A method of anchoring an implant to tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a delivery apparatus releasably carrying a fixation apparatus, the delivery apparatus including a body, a tubular shaft extending from the body and having a distal end, a displacement rod longitudinally displaceable within the body and the tubular shaft and including a proximal end and a distal end, a tether severing element in the body including a cutting edge, and an actuator coupled to the body and attached to the proximal end of the displacement rod, the fixation apparatus including first and second anchors, a flexible band connecting the first and second anchors and including a cinch line releasably coupled to the delivery apparatus, and a tether extending through the tubular shaft, the tether having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tether attached to the delivery apparatus within the body of the delivery apparatus, and the distal end of the tether attached to the second anchor;
• positioning the implant in proximity to the tissue;
• inserting the distal end of the tubular shaft into or through the tissue at a first location;
• operating the actuator to deploy the first anchor into or through the tissue;
• relocating the delivery apparatus to a second location different than the first location, the second location selected such that at least a portion of the implant is located between the band and the tissue;
• inserting the distal end of the tubular shaft into or through the tissue at the second location;
• operating the actuator to deploy the second anchor into or through the tissue, wherein operating the actuator to deploy the second anchor includes severing the tether by the cutting edge;
• applying tension to the cinch line to foreshorten the band between the first and second anchors, thereby securing the implant to the tissue with the at least a portion of the implant positioned between the band and the tissue.