Patent ID: 8114123
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A tissue holding structure, comprising: a ring defining a plane and an interior space; and a plurality of tissue penetrating members mounted on the ring and spaced from one another annularly along the ring, each of the tissue penetrating members extending from the ring to a free end; the structure having a first relaxed condition in which the tissue penetrating members project from a first side of the plane; the structure having a second deformed condition in which the tissue penetrating members project from a second side of the plane; wherein the tissue penetrating members are adapted to move from the first relaxed condition to the second deformed condition by passing the free ends through the interior space, and the tissue penetrating members are biased to move from the second deformed condition to the first relaxed condition with the free ends passing through the interior space.