Patent ID: 7182769

Claim:
A method for closing an opening in tissue having an outer surface and in inner surface comprising: introducing a self-closing clip comprising an elongated member having ends and a pair of biasing mechanisms coupled to said member, said elongated member comprising shape memory material and having a memory set closed configuration from which it is moveable to a plurality of open configurations, said biasing mechanisms being selectively adjustable to bias the self-closing clip toward any of said plurality of open configurations, each biasing mechanisms comprising a biasing member and an actuator, each biasing member adapted to apply a biasing force to said elongated member to urge said elongated member away from said closed configuration, and each actuator being coupled to one of said biasing members and adapted to activate said biasing member to apply said biasing force to said elongated member; positioning the self-closing clip in an open configuration with said ends directed toward the inner surface of the tissue; passing said ends through the tissue adjacent to the opening; closing the opening; and allowing the self-closing clip to return toward its closed configuration.