Patent ID: 8676352

Claim:
A fastening device for fixing implantable medical devices to tissue including: a. a main body ( 1 ) having: (1) a first end ( 1 a ), (2) a second end ( 1 b ) bearing an inflexible and inextensible first body support ( 3 ), (3) an extensible body section ( 2 ) between the first end ( 1 a ) and the second end ( 1 b ), b. a flexible elongated first anchor ( 4 ): (1) extending from the main body ( 1 ), and (2) being attached to the first body support ( 3 ) at a first anchor mount ( 4 a ), and c. a flexible first retraction device ( 5 ) connected between a first anchor fastening location ( 5 b ) on the first anchor ( 4 ) and a first body fastening location ( 5 a ) on the extensible body section ( 2 ) of the main body ( 1 ), the first retraction device ( 5 ): (1) serving as a tether on the first anchor ( 4 ), whereby tension on the first retraction device ( 5 ) is transmitted to the first anchor ( 4 ), and (2) including a thin flexible fin extending attached without interruption: (a) along a length of the first anchor ( 4 ) between the first anchor fastening location ( 5 b ) and the first anchor mount ( 4 a ), and (b) along a length of the extensible body section ( 2 ) between the first anchor mount ( 4 a ) and the first body fastening location ( 5 a ); the extensible body section ( 2 ) being convertible from an unextended state into an extended state wherein: i. the spacing between the first body fastening location ( 5 a ) and the first anchor mount ( 4 a ) is increased, and ii. the first anchor ( 4 ) is pulled by the first retraction device ( 5 ) toward the extensible body section ( 2 ).