DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RETRACTING, LIFTING, COMPRESSING, SUPPORTING OR REPOSITIONING TISSUES OR ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES
Devices, systems and methods for retracting, lifting, compressing, supporting or repositioning tissues, organs, anatomical structures, grafts or other structures within the body of human or animal subjects for the purpose of treating a diseases or disorders and/or for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes and/or for research and development purposes or other purposes.
1 - 63 . (canceled)
64 . A device useable to anchor an elongate member to tissue of a human or animal subject, said anchor device comprising:
an anchor body having a hollow passage through which the filament may pass; and
a locking member that is initially positioned in a non-locked position that allows the anchor body to advance over the filament and a locked position where the locking member engages the filament thereby holding the anchor body at a substantially fixed position on the filament.
65 . A device according to claim 64 wherein the elongate member is selected from the group consisting of. connector members, filaments, strands, threads, suture threads, string, wires, semi-rigid members, flexible members, elastic members, non-elastic members, resilient members and plastically deformable members.
66 . A device according to claim 64 wherein the locking member comprises a locking pin.
67 . A device according to claim 64 wherein the locking member comprises a wedging element that wedges between the filament and the anchor body.
68 . A device according to claim 67 wherein the wedging element comprises an elongate shaft having branches or bristles extending therefrom.
69 . A device according to claim 64 wherein the second body anchor body further comprises a locking member engagement surface that engages the locking member after it has been advanced to its locked position, thereby holding the locking member in its locked position.
70 . A device according to claim 64 wherein the locking member engagement surface comprises a tab that extends into the hollow channel and wherein a notch is formed in the locking member such that when the locking member is advanced to its locked position the tab will seat in the notch, thereby holding the locking member in its locked position.
71 . A system comprising a device according to claim 64 in combination with an introducer that is insertable into the body and useable to advance the anchor body over the filament to a desired position on the filament and the then move the locking member from its non-locked position to its locked position, thereby locking the anchor body on the filament at the desired location.
72 . A system according to claim 71 wherein the introducer further comprises a cutter for cutting the filament at a site proximal to the anchor body after the anchor body has been advanced to the desired location.
73 . A system according to claim 71 further comprising a handpiece on the proximal end of the introducer, said handpiece comprising a first actuator for advancing the anchor body over the filament and a second actuator for moving the locking member from its non-locked position to its locked position.
74 . A system according to claim 72 further comprising a handpiece on the proximal end of the introducer, said handpiece comprising a first actuator for advancing the anchor body over the filament, a second actuator for moving the locking member from its non-locked position to its locked position and a third actuator for cutting the filament.
75 . A device according to claim 64 wherein the anchor body comprises an elongate member having an open proximal end, a side aperture and wherein the hollow passage extends at least from the open proximal end to the side aperture such that an end of the filament may be inserted into the side aperture and the anchor body may then be advanced over the filament such that the filament trails out of the open proximal end of the second anchor as the second anchor is advanced over the filament.
76 - 137 . (canceled)