Patent ID: 7494496

Claim:
A device adapted to act as a first component, in cooperation with a second component, for use in bringing together a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer, the device comprising a plurality of separate elongate members each of which has a longitudinal axis, the device having a first, introduction configuration in which the longitudinal axes of the elongate members are substantially aligned with one another, and a second, use configuration in which the said longitudinal axes are disposed at an angle to one another, the device comprising means for bringing the elongate members from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein the elongate members are tubular members having a tubular wall, the means for bringing the elongate members from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises a thread on which the elongate members are threaded, the elongate members being arranged to be brought into the second configuration by imparting tension to the thread, the elongate members each provided with a pair of openings in its respective tubular wall, the said thread passing successively through the pair of openings formed in the wall of one member and the pair of openings formed in the wall of the other member, and the device further comprising two additional tubes, and a second thread which passes successively through the first said tubular member, a first one of the said additional tubes, the said second tubular member, and a second one of the said additional tubes, whereby imparting tension to both threads brings the device into its second configuration, in which the said elongate members form a diagonal cross, and the said additional tubes lie in either side of the cross.