Patent ID: 8337524
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of closing a hole in a tissue internally in a body, the method comprising: inserting an elongated tool carrying a clip having a plurality of tissue piercing tips into the body, the elongated tool having at least one actuator that protectively retains each of the tissue piercing tips as the clip is delivered in a retracted configuration through the hole in the tissue from a first side of the tissue to a second side of the tissue; manipulating the elongated tool to cause the clip to move into an expanded configuration in which the tissue piercing tips are positioned about the tissue that encompasses the hole in the tissue with the tissue piercing tips protectively retained by the at least one actuator; manipulating the elongated tool to cause the tissue piercing tips of the clip to become exposed after the tissue piercing tips are positioned about the tissue that encompasses the hole in the tissue; embedding the exposed tissue piercing tips into the tissue from the second side of the tissue with at least some of the tissue piercing tips opposed to one another across the hole; further manipulating the elongated tool to cause the clip to move from the expanded configuration toward the retracted configuration and to cause the exposed tissue piercing tips to further embed into the tissue; releasing the clip from the elongated tool; and removing the elongated tool from the body.