Patent ID: 8205782

Claim:
A compression assembly which comprises: a first portion which comprises: a first compression element; and a second portion which comprises: a second compression element positioned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first compression element, said first and second compression elements being adapted to be brought together in the presence of a closure force applied thereacross; at least one support element, where one of said at least one support elements is a needle bearing support element, said needle bearing support element having a plurality of needles extending generally transversely therefrom toward said first compression element; and at least one spring element positioned on one of said at least one support elements and being in compressive force transmissive contact with said second compression element, said spring element providing a non-Hooke's Law restorative force to said second compression element, wherein when said compression assembly is positioned so as to hold between said first and second compression elements tissue portions to be compressed therebetween, said needle bearing support is operative in response to the closure force to drive said plurality of needles through the tissue portions to be compressed and to anchor said plurality of needles in said first portion, and wherein when said first and second compression elements are brought together in the presence of the closure force holding the tissue portions therebetween, the restorative force provided by said at least one spring element is operative on said second compression element to compress the tissue portions.