Patent ID: 7211101

Claim:
A device for engaging tissue, comprising: a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and being disposed about a central axis extending substantially normal to the plane, the body being movable from a first configuration to a second configuration smaller than the first configuration under a radially inwardly directed force and subsequently from a substantially planar configuration lying generally in the plane towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane, the body comprising a plurality of looped elements comprising alternating first and second curved regions; at least one first primary tine extending from a first curved region of the annular-shaped body generally towards the central axis in the planar configuration and being deflectable out of the plane when the body is moved towards the transverse configuration, the at least one first primary tine being offset from the axis of symmetry of the first curved region; and at least one second tine extending from the second curved region of the annular-shaped body generally towards the first primary tine when the body is disposed in the planar configuration.