US Patent 7846180 Tissue fixation devices and methods of fixing tissue

A tissue fixation device may include a suture, a first securing element connected to a first portion of the suture, and a second securing element connected to a second portion of the suture. The first and second securing elements are each rotatable from a first position during deployment of the tissue fixation device that is suitable for each securing element to pass through a respective hole formed in tissue to a second position when the tissue fixation device is deployed that inhibits each securing element from passing through the respective hole formed in the tissue. An exemplary method of fixing tissue may include creating two holes in the tissue and deploying a tissue fixation device having a suture connecting two securing elements by advancing each securing element through a respective hole in the tissue and causing each securing element to rotate to a position that inhibits the securing element from passing through the respective hole.