Patent ID: 7799042

Claim:
A closure member for clamping tissue adjacent a wound, the closure member comprising: a base portion including a first part and a second part, first and second retaining portions operatively coupled to the base portion in a manner allowing movement of the first and second retaining portions toward each other and relative to the base portion, first and second sets of tines respectively carried on the first and second retaining portions and extending toward each other, the first and second sets of tines defining an open condition in which the first and second sets of tines are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow placement of the tissue therebetween and a closed condition in which the first and second sets of tines are moved toward each other to engage and clamp the tissue and close the wound, and a sacrifice structure coupling the first part of the base portion to the second part of the base portion, the sacrifice structure comprising at least one of a weakened portion or a portion that becomes weakened over time, such that the sacrifice structure initially maintains the first and second sets of tines in the closed condition and then allows movement of the first part of the base portion relative to the second part to thereby allow removal of the first and second sets of tines from the tissue after sufficient healing of the wound.