Abstract: The device of the present invention is designed for repairing a tear in soft and/or tough tissue of a patient, such as a tear in the meniscus of the knee. The device has a conduit, such as a cannula, that may be easily inserted into the patient and through which the fastener is delivered to the patient. This conduit is aligned with a seat for holding a fastener and the fastener is pushed, e.g., by a piston, from its seat and through the conduit and into the patient. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shape of the conduit exactly matches the shape of the cross-section of the fastener so that the surgeon may more accurately direct the angle and location at which the fastener enters the patient.

Abstract: An intervertebral fusion device is formed of an elastic block body which is provided in the upper contact surface thereof with a plurality of downward elastic slots substantially parallel to one another, and in the lower contact surface thereof with one or more upward elastic slots substantially parallel to the downward elastic slots. The upward elastic slots and the downward elastic slots are arranged in an alternating manner. The elastic block body has a left surface and a right surface, which are substantially planar in construction. The upper contact surface and the lower contact surface of the elastic block body are of a convex construction.