Method and apparatus for positioning an anchor member

Abstract

A method for positioning an anchor member relative to body tissue is provided. The method includes positioning an end portion of a tubular member relative to the body tissue with the end portion being in a closed condition at least partially blocking a passage in the tubular member, moving the tubular member into the body tissue by piercing the body tissue with the end portion of the tubular member, and moving an anchor member along the passage in the tubular member with a suture disposed in engagement with the anchor member. The method also includes operating the end portion of the tubular member from the closed condition to an open condition, moving the anchor member through the end portion of the tubular member into the body tissue while the end portion of the tubular member is in the open condition, and expanding hydrophilic material of the anchor member.

1 . A method of positioning an anchor member relative to body tissue, the method comprising: 
 positioning an end portion of a tubular member relative to body tissue with the end portion of the tubular member in a closed condition at least partially blocking a passage in the tubular member;    moving the tubular member into body tissue by piercing the body tissue with the end portion of the tubular member;    moving an anchor member along the passage in the tubular member with a suture disposed in engagement with the anchor member;    operating the end portion of the tubular member from the closed condition to an open condition;    moving the anchor member through the end portion of the tubular member into the body tissue while the end portion of the tubular member is in the open condition; and    expanding hydrophilic material of the anchor member.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic material of the anchor member expands when exposed to body fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes a plurality of wires which extend along a passage in the tubular member.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein moving the anchor member along a passage in the tubular member includes sliding the anchor member along the wires and moving the anchor member out of the passage in the tubular member into the body tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member by transmitting force from a leading end portion of the anchor member to the tubular member while moving the anchor member along the passage in the tubular member.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of piercing the body tissue includes forming an opening in the body tissue at a location which is free of naturally occurring openings.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member by resiliently stretching material which forms at least a portion of the tubular member.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving segments of the end portion of tubular member which pierced the body tissue from an closed position in which portions of the segments of the end portion of the tubular member are disposed in engagement with each other to an open position in which the portions of the segments of the end portion of the tubular member are spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of covering indicia on the tubular member with body tissue as the tubular member is inserted into the body tissue, and interrupting insertion of the tubular member into body tissue in response to covering of indicia corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the tubular member into body tissue.  
     
     
         10 . A method of positioning an anchor member relative to a patient's body tissue, said method comprising: 
 providing an anchor member having a suture disposed in engagement therewith, the anchor member including hydrophilic material;    providing a tubular member;    moving the anchor member along a passage in the tubular member with the suture disposed in engagement with the anchor member;    moving the anchor member out of the passage in the tubular member into the patient's body tissue with the suture disposed in engagement with the anchor member, and    expanding the hydrophilic material of the anchor member.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member by transmitting force from an expansion member to the tubular member while moving the anchor member along the passage in the tubular member without transmitting force from the anchor member to the tubular member and expanding at least a portion of the tubular member under the influence of the force transmitted from the expansion member to the tubular member.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member by resiliently stretching material which forms at least a portion of the tubular member without transmitting force from the anchor member to the tubular member.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of forming an opening in the patient's body tissue by piercing the patient's body tissue with an end portion of the tubular member, said step of moving the anchor member out of the passage in the tubular member includes moving the anchor member through an opening in the end portion of the tubular member which pieced the patient's body tissue.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including the step of expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member without transmitting force from the anchor member to the tubular member.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of moving segments of the tubular member from an initial position in which portions of the segments of the tubular member are disposed in engagement with each other to an extended position in which the portions of the segments of the tubular member are spaced apart from each other without transmitting force from the anchor member to the tubular member.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of providing an inner member, said step of moving the anchor member along the passage in the tubular member is performed with the anchor member enclosed by the inner member and spaced from the tubular member.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including the step of expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member by applying force against the tubular member with the inner member while the anchor member is enclosed by the inner member and is spaced from the tubular member.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of moving the anchor member along a passage in the tubular member is performed with at least a portion of the anchor member enclosed by an inner member, the method further includes the step of expanding at least a portion of the passage in the tubular member and transmitting force from the inner member to the tubular member while moving the inner member and the suture anchor formed of body tissue together along the passage in the tubular member.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the steps of inserting the tubular member into the patient's body tissue, covering indicia on the tubular member with body tissue as the tubular member is inserted into the patient's body tissue, and interrupting the step of inserting the tubular member into the patient's body tissue in response to covering of indicia corresponding to a desired depth of insertion of the tubular member into the patient's body tissue.