Patent ID: 7891062

Claim:
A lip closure device for use with human remains comprising: a shaft having a first end that is a substantially pointed blade comprised of a first side edge that is aligned with a side of the shaft and second side edge forming a taper with the first side edge and a second end that includes a substantially blunt blade formed at the outer edge of the second end; a first plurality of hooking notches positioned behind the first end and a second plurality of hooking notches positioned behind the second end for engaging with tissue in the human remains to maintain the lips of the human remains into a substantially fixed position; and wherein the first plurality of hooking notches and the second plurality of hooking notches include a notched section having a substantially wide end and a substantially narrow end forming a taper in the shaft with sides that are equidistant from a center point of the shaft such that the first plurality of hooking notches and the second plurality of hooking notches are formed at the substantially narrow end of the notched section.