Patent ID: 8075576

Claim:
A closure device, comprising: an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; a first actuator segment associated with the elongate body; and a second actuator segment associated with the elongate body, where the first actuator segment and the second actuator segment include a shape memory polymer, where the elongate body includes a first conductive element extending from the proximal end to the first actuator segment and a second conductive element extending from the proximal end to the second actuator segment, where the first conductive element provides thermal energy to the shape memory polymer of the first actuator to cause the first actuator segment to bend the elongate body to a first predetermined position and the second conductive element provides thermal energy to the shape memory polymer of the second actuator to cause the second actuator segment to bend the elongate body to a second predetermined position, the distal end and the proximal end being more closely positioned in the second predetermined position than in the first predetermined position, and where the elongate body defines a longitudinal slit adjacent the proximal end that receives the distal end of the elongate body when in the second predetermined position.